History Film / AMatterOfFaith

* TheMoralSubstitute: Of a sort, for ''GodsNotDead''. A lot of creationist groups had problem with ''God's Not Dead'', saying they wanted to endorse but couldn't because the main character argues that evolution is true and compatible with Christianity. This film provides creationists with [[FollowTheLeader a similar film,]] but from a strictly creationist perspective.

* TheMoralSubstitute: Of a sort, for ''GodsNotDead''. A lot of creationist groups had problem with ''God's Not Dead'', saying they wanted to endorse but couldn't because the main character argues that evolution is true and compatible with Christianity. This film provides creationist with [[FollowTheLeader a similar film,]] but from a strictly creationist perspective.

* TruthInTelevision: Not the scientific parts, but the parts where Rachel questions her faith after being taught about evolution in class seems to draw inspiration from [[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/02/13/how-creationism-hurts-christian-colleges-and-their-students.html a modern trend]] of college students who have grown up in religious households and been taught falsehoods about evolution learning about the subject from more qualified science teachers and, as a result, growing distant from their faith. Unlike the film, however, the vast majority of them end up abandoning their faith altogether.

* DotingParent: Stephen is this towards Rachel, going as far as confronting her college biology teacher. Could borderline on a gender reversed MyBelovedSmother with how embarrassed she is by this.

* GretzkyHasTheBall: The debate is supposed to be focused on Creationism vs Evolution, yet it quickly devolves into the idea of proving God's existence. Not once does the moderator try to get the debate back on track.

* NeverMyFault: After Stephen barged his way in, tries to get Professor Kaman to teach Creationism, and accepts Professor Kaman's offer to debate his side, Stephen seems to treat it like he was forced to do this debate.

* VillainyFreeVillain: Professor Kaman, albeit unintentionally. While he is set up as the villain since he advocates evolution, he doesn't really do anything the average viewer would consider outright evil or even mean. In fact he seems to be one of the nicest characters in the film and shows far more tolerance to the father than any RealLife professor would take. Sure, he might come on a bit strong defending evolution during the debate, but that doesn't change the fact that he has a right to defend his views, just like Stephen does. A debate, which one might add, Kaman invited Stephen to give the man a platform to logically debate his side.

* TruthInTelevision: Not the scientific parts, but the parts where Rachel questions her faith after being taught about evolution in class seems to draw inspiration from [[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/02/13/how-creationism-hurts-christian-colleges-and-their-students.html a modern trend]] of college students who have grown up in religious households and been taught falsehoods about evolution learning about the subject from more qualified science teachers and, as a result, growing distant from their faith.

* MenActWomenAre: Despite this film sets up Rachel as the main character, it is her father that has the problem with Kaman teaching evolution. From there the last half of the film focuses on Stephan and Kaman with their debate and practically sidelining her.

* DidntThinkThisThrough: After Stephen makes a big deal about Creationism and accepting the debate, he later realizes he does not know enough to properly defend his side. He is later even seen reading from a high school level biology text book.

* ForgottenFirstMeeting: [[spoiler:Rachel met Evan when they were kids during the scene shown in the beginning of the film, though neither recognizes each other as adults until Stephen tells Evan about it.]]

* VillainyFreeVillain: Professor Kaman, albeit unintentionally. While he is set up as the villain since he advocates evolution, he doesn't really do anything the average viewer would consider outright evil or even mean. In fact he seems to be one of the nicest characters in the film and shows far more tolerance to the father than any RealLife professor would take. Sure, he might come on a bit strong defending evolution during the debate, but that doesn't change the fact that he has a right to defend his views, just like Stephen does. A debate, which one might add, Kaman invited Stephen to giving the man a platform to logically debate his side.

* VillainyFreeVillain: Professor Kaman, albeit unintentionally. While he is set up as the villain since he advocates evolution, he doesn't really do anything the average viewer would consider outright evil or even mean. In fact he seems to be one of the nicest characters in the film and shows far more tolerance to the father than any RealLife professor would take. Sure, he might come on a bit strong defending evolution during the debate, but that doesn't change the fact that he has a right to defend his views, just like Stephen does.

* VillainyFreeVillain: Professor Kaman, albeit unintentionally. While he is set up as the villain since he advocates evolution, he doesn't really do anything the average viewer would consider outright evil or even mean. Sure, he might come on a bit strong defending evolution during the debate, but that doesn't change the fact that he has a right to defend his views, just like Stephen does.

* DotingParent: Stephen is this towards Rachel, going as far as confronting her college biology teacher.

'''''A Matter of Faith''''' is a Christian drama film from 2014.

* ExcusePlot: The story of the film is really just there to present the filmmakers' idea of the evolution vs. creationism debate.
* ForgottenFirstMeeting: [[spoiler:Rachel met Evan when they were kids during the scene shown in the beginning of the film, though only he remembers it.]]

* WhiteKnighting: Evan's actions towards Rachel can easily be seen like this: Defending her from another student making fun of her father, warning her about the other male student's intentions of having sex with her (especially considering that his ulterior motive might not be so different).

* BigDamnHeroes: For the creationist side, when [[spoiler: former professor Portland appears during the debate and takes over Stephens place in it]].

* DawsonCasting: Jordan Trovillion who was 29 when filming the movie, plays 18 year old Rachel.

!Tropes

* WhiteKnighting: Evan's actions towards Rachel can easily be seen like this: Defending her from another student making fun of her father, warning her about the other male student's intentions of having sex with her (especially considering that his ulterior motive might not be so different).

* WhiteKnighting: Evan's actions towards Rachel can easily be seen like this: Defending her from another student making fun of her father, warning her about the intentions of having sex with her of another male student (especially considering that his motive might not be so different).

* WhiteKnighting: Evan's actions towards Rachel can easily be seen like this: Defending her from another student making fun of her father, warning her about the intentions of having sex with her of another male student.

* TheWarOnStraw: The film mangles the arguments for evolution so badly that they are easily taken down by the creationist side.

* DottingParent: Stephen is this towards Rachel, going as far as confronting her college biology teacher.

'''A Matter of Faith''' is a Christian drama film from 2014.

When a Christian girl, Rachel, goes to college and starts studying biology, Stephen, her equally religious father becomes concerned that her teacher, Professor Kaman, teaches evolution and not Biblical creationism. When an annual debate event comes up, the professor invites Stephen to debate him about which is true.