The Veritas Forum

Tim Keller, Presbyterian pastor, theologian, and bestselling author, explores why Christianity’s exclusive truth claims can seem divisive in a pluralistic democracy. He examines religion’s role in conflict, why modernization and suppression cannot erase faith, and whether any worldview can avoid exclusive convictions. Keller closes with a vision of humble, grace-shaped Christianity centered on sacrificial love, justice, and peacemaking.

Sean McDowell, a Christian apologetics professor and author, and Paul Rinzler, an atheist philosopher and professor emeritus, confront the tension between divine goodness and suffering. They debate natural disasters, moral evil, free will, pain’s purpose, and whether mystery can explain apparent cruelty. Their conversation also explores personal experiences, justice, hope, mortality, and practical ways to respond to suffering.

Lydia Dugdale, a Columbia physician and bioethics scholar, joins James Valentini, a chemistry professor and former Columbia College dean, to examine grind culture. They explore meaningful work versus empty striving, mortality’s power to clarify priorities, and how love, faith, mentors, and reflection can guide a calling. They also ask whether achievement should ever define human worth.

Arthur Brooks, a social scientist and author focused on happiness and meaning, joins Andrew Huberman, a Stanford neuroscientist studying behavior and human performance. They explore why achievement can feel empty, how science and faith intersect, and the roles of prayer, awe, family, friendship, service, struggle, and mortality in a fulfilling life. They also discuss morning practices, searching for God, and living with uncertainty.

Desirée Plata, an MIT environmental engineering professor, and Cullen Buie, an MIT mechanical engineering professor, join moderator Mia Chung to explore ambition, purpose, and meaningful work. They discuss ego in academia, mentorship, Sabbath rest, caregiving, grief, and balancing faith, family, and research. A thoughtful conversation about choosing lasting values over status and learning to care about something bigger than success.

Michael Weisberg, a Penn philosopher of science, and David Lahti, a Queens College evolutionary biologist, explore where science reaches its limits. They discuss evolution, divine action, cosmic origins, suffering, morality, meaning, and the difference between knowledge and faith. Christian and agnostic perspectives meet in a thoughtful conversation about intellectual humility and life’s biggest questions.

John Lennox, Oxford mathematician and philosopher of science, offers concise responses on evil, suffering, and Christian hope. He examines freedom and genuine love, distinguishes moral from natural evils, and considers whether dangerous natural processes are necessary for life. He reflects on God’s presence in suffering, the meaning of the cross, resurrection, judgment, and the place of human choice.

In today’s episode, historian Molly Worthen (UNC-Chapel Hill) discusses the most radical pivot of her life: becoming a Christian after years of religious skepticism. Moderated by psychology professor Thad Polk (University of Michigan), you’ll hear Molly’s story of journeying from doubt to faith. She explores how the historical claims of Jesus’ Resurrection, existential questions about meaning, and honesty about her doubts led her to the Christian faith. She also answers questions from the student audience about what her life has looked like after becoming a Christian. This forum was held at the University of Michigan in March 2026. Thank you to the student planning team for making this event possible. Find additional resources and quotes on the podcast episode page here.

In today’s episode, a theologian and a philosopher explore what happens when we die. They discuss questions like, Is death the end, or is it the beginning of something new? And how do Christian claims about Jesus’ Resurrection change the way we think about death today? You’ll hear from N. T. Wright, a New Testament scholar at Oxford, and Shelly Kagan, a philosopher at Yale. In this lively conversation moderated by Columbia medical ethicist Lydia Dugdale, they explore death, the afterlife, Jesus’ Resurrection, and how our views on these subjects influence the way we live right now. This forum was held at Yale in 2014. Thank you to the student planning team for making this event possible. Find additional resources and quotes on the podcast episode page here.

Meaning can be straightforward — a red octagon means “Stop!”, a hand wave with a smile means “Hello,” or adding two and two equals four. But meaning is often more complicated — a friend saying they’ll eat  “whatever” for dinner or a significant other texting, “We need to talk.” In this episode, our speakers invite you into the messiness of meaning — and discuss how best we can search for it. You’ll hear a conversation between mathematician Satyan Devadoss (U San Diego) and biologist Stuart Firestein (Columbia). Satyan and Stuart bring their scientific backgrounds and religious perspectives as they explore the role of reason in the search for meaning, what can and can’t be taken at face value, and what strategies can help us find truth — from the scientific method to literary analysis to religious tradition. This Forum was held at Columbia University in 2014. Thanks to the forums planning team at Columbia for making this event possible.  Find additional resources and quotes on the podcast episode page here.