Some of the nation's foremost biblical scholars will converge at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Feb. 3-4 to lead the second annual 20/20 Collegiate Conference.
Headlining this year's conference are keynote speakers Norman Geisler, president of Southern Evangelical Seminary in Charlotte, NC, and Southeastern Seminary president Daniel Akin. In addition, University of North Carolina professor Bart Ehrman, the chairman of the school's department of religious studies; Duke University Divinity School associate professor of New Testament Richard Hays; and Southeastern professor of New Testament Andreas Kostenberger will join Geisler in participating in a panel discussion regarding Dan Brown's best-selling book The Da Vinci Code.
The discussion will give the diverse panel an opportunity to weigh in on the book, which will debut as a major motion picture in May 2006, and its impact on American Christianity today.
According to Bruce Ashford, conference organizer and assistant professor of philosophy and intercultural studies at Southeastern, the 20/20 Conference's merit lies in the opportunity it will give high school upperclassmen and college students to evaluate The Da Vinci Code and other hot-button topics from a Christian perspective.
“There clearly is a demand for the tougher questions in the Christian faith to be treated with some depth,” Ashford said. “This conference is an opportunity, we hope, to teach, equip and prepare high school juniors and seniors for going to college and to help teach and equip college students who are confronted in their academic classes with challenges to their faith.”
Other topics to be addressed include other religions like Islam, atheism, Buddhism and New Age; philosophers like Nietzsche, Darwin and Freud; and issues such as sex, money, fashion and eating disorders.
The 20/20 Conference will discuss the issues from within a solidly conservative framework, said Ashford.
Those interested in attending the conference can find additional information, including registration, at the 20/20 Conference website (www.sebts.edu/2020) or by calling 1-888-290-7787.
Special to the Herald