The Veritas Conflict

Title: Veritas

Author: Shaunti Feldhahn

Publisher and Date: Mulnomah Publishers, 2001

The setting of Veritas was at Harvard University. The story begins in the late 17^th century then jumps to the late 20^th or early 21^st century.

**In the late 17^th century:

• ·         George Grindly; a man if God, who fought and had a plan to keep Christ in the University.
• ·         Whelen Pike;  antichrist, fighting against Grindly to take Christ out of the University.
• ·         Cleon Grindly; son of George Grindly. After his father died, Cleon prayed that he might know what his father’s plan was.

                George Grindly and Whelen Pike are at each others necks over an argument between the board members. Most of the board members agree to change Harvards motto back to only ‘Veritas’ meaning ‘Truth, and taking ‘Christo et Ecclesiae’ (Christ and the Church) out. They believe that by changing it, more students will want to come to Harvard. The only one holding the Board Members back is George Grindly, he believes that they need to keep Christ in, because it is God's University. The University was built to teach students more about God. On the day that decided whether they would change the motto or not, George Grindly was killed in an accident orchestrated by the demons under Satan’s orders.

                With George Grindly out of the way the board members were able to change the motto of Harvard. Grindly’s son Cleon prayed that God might give him his father’s ideas. After fifteen years of prayer and research God gave it to him in a dream. The book doesn’t talk about what it was.

**In the late 20^th century or early 21^st century:

• ·         Claire Rivers; raised in a Christian home, struggling through her freshman year at Harvard. Rivers  is trying to do everything for God, but messes up sometimes. Also is trying to keep her roommate focused on God while witnessing to her non-believer friends.
• ·         Professor Mansfield; a.k.a Mansfield teaches Intro to European History; a class which Claire attends. Mansfield organized a Bible study for the students and is a father figure to many of them.
• ·         Ian Burke; Professor Mansfield’s TA; graduate from Harvard. Burke’s parents died in an accident when he was a sophomore at Harvard and Mansfield "adopted" him.
• ·         Anton Pike; descendent of Whelen Pike, satanic; has strong influence over many students and employees, including the president of Harvard.
• ·         Victor Pike; Anton Pike’s brother, satanic, co-partner of a secret company; Peephole Publications which produces and sells porn and drugs
• ·         Stefan Pike; Son of Anton Pike, struggling with his feelings between right and wrong.
• ·         Sherry; Claire’s roommate, dating Stefan, struggling between right and wrong
• ·        Edward Grindly; descendent of George Grindly, lives in a family home near Harvard, finds old family records from Cleon Grindly.

Claire gets accepted into Harvard. She struggles with keeping her faith strong and staying with her studies all the while witnessing to her friends and trying to keep Sherry on the straight and narrow. Having a hobby for research, Claire is asked to join Mansfield and Ian in a research of the records Edward Grindly found and asked for help. During the research Claire and Ian find something about Pike’s, curious that the Pikes keep coming up. They research into it and find out about their Peephole Publications which produces porn and drugs. They also find out various other things about the Pikes.

        Stefan Pike finds out about their research, notifies his father, Anton and Victor agree they need to get rid of Claire by killing her so that word does not get out about them. That Saturday, the Bible Study Claire attends is putting on a BBQ at the park. They set up large canopy. Suddenly a truck crashed into it. Word gets out that it killed Mansfield and injured a few students. Turns out the crash was meant for Claire Rivers. Ian Burke is trying to get Claire away from the Pike’s grip, but as they are driving away they see Stefan running towards them, eyes wild, yelling for help. They stop and put Stefan in the back seat. After he calms down he tells them he say everything, the demons and angels. He was screaming because he relized he had about 4-5 demons attached to him and wouldn’t let go but held on tighter.

        Anton and Victor kidnap Claire and are about to sacrifice her to satan, but Ian, Stefan and Gage Grindly (Edward’s grandson) go after her. Anton is about to spear Claire when Stefan jumps in the way and the spear goes through him. Right before he dies Stefan tells Ian “I commit”, he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Saviour.

In the end they are at Mansfield funeral and in the other world Mansfield is watching from heaven with his wife and Jesus.

While all this is happening in the visible earthly realm, the guardian angels are protecting their subjects and the demons are trying to get to the Christians. 

I believe this book goes to show us that no matter where we are what we are going through, God is with us. He has His guardian angels watching us. He will always protect us if we accept His help. We must acknowledge, repent, and accept God into our hearts for his everlasting love and compassion. Jesus is offering it to us until we take it. It will always be there; even if we mess up. God's gift will be there for us again, again, and again!! God's love never fails!

I liked this book and would read it again.

Hope you enjoyed my LONG review.