The Veritas Forum

Psychology professor Matthew Vess and Apologetics professor Sean McDowell discuss the role of belief and faith in achieving goals, the claims of Christianity, the nature of faith in relation to evidence, the development of culture as a solution to the question of death, and the role of Islam and Christianity in coping with death.

In the US, more and more adults believe in “nothing in particular.” Recent surveys from Pew Research and the Associated Press suggest that around 30% of American adults are religiously unaffiliated, up 10% from a decade ago. Surveys like these are helpful for religious belief in the abstract. But, when it comes to the questions and doubts you hold about your faith — or lack thereof — you need a different tool: story. You'll hear two such stories today — and be invited to consider your own story, too. Hear Sam Mitchell (Mount Holyoke), an atheist philosopher, in dialogue with Christian philosopher, Meghan Sullivan (Notre Dame). They share how they developed their worldviews and discuss the challenges of belief in the particular. This Forum conversation was held in 2016 at Mount Holyoke College and is moderated by economics professor Jim Hartley. Thank you to the Forum planning team who made this event possible! Watch the full forum here. Sign up for our newsletter here. Visit veritas.org to learn more about the mission of the Veritas Forum and find more resources to explore the ideas that shape our lives

In this podcast, Harvard professors Tyler VanderWeele and Steven Pinker discuss their beliefs on progress, human potential, and the role of faith in human flourishing. They explore the trends of humanity towards dystopia or utopia and the importance of hope. The speakers also discuss the contrasting views on human nature and the importance of reason, understanding, and restoration. They delve into the concept of progress and human flourishing, cautioning against the idea of achieving utopia or perfection. Additionally, they explore the interpretation of the word 'gospel' in the Christian faith and the potential dangers of excessive reliance on reason and science. Finally, they highlight the common ground between humanism and Christianity, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, rights, and teachings of love and unity.

N.T. Wright, best-selling author and New Testament Scholar, discusses the enduring influence of ancient gods on our desires for money, sex, and war. He explores the historical and cultural context of belief in a new order, the rise of secularism, and the role of Jesus in a divided world. The podcast explores wisdom, science, fear of the Lord, and the significance of Jesus' resurrection in transforming worldviews.

Jonathan Feng, a theoretical physicist researching dark matter, discusses the benefits of not knowing everything, including greater appreciation, curiosity, and understanding of the world. The podcast explores Stephen Hawking's contributions to physics and his views on religion, as well as different sizes and scales in physics. It also delves into the relationship between scientific proof and religious beliefs, highlighting the harmony between science and faith.

Social scientist and happiness scholar Arthur Brooks discusses the journey towards happiness and his new book with Oprah Winfrey. They explore managing emotions for a happier life, the Clifton strengths assessment and Panas survey, embracing all emotions, the intersection of science and spirituality, and the work of becoming happier.

Anthropologist Ernest Becker, in his Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Denial of Death, says that denying death is a necessary part of functioning in the world. It’s what inspires us to create culture, religion, and love, allowing us to avoid death and achieve immortality. But perhaps there is another way — besides denial — to relate to death. What should our relationship with death look like? And, how often — and to what degree — should we contemplate our mortality? Today's episode addresses these questions. You'll hear from philosophy professor Susanna Siegel (Harvard), and medical ethicist Lydia Dugdale (Columbia) in a Forum Event hosted at Harvard University in February 2023. Watch the full Forum event from this episode here. Sign up for our newsletter here. Visit veritas.org to learn more about the mission of the Veritas Forum and find more resources to explore the ideas that shape our lives

Mathematics professor John Lennox and moderator Rosemary Avery discuss the problem of evil, the goodness of God, and the Christian perspective on pain and suffering. They explore different worldviews, the origins of mental pain, God's view on justice in the Bible, and the concept of judgment in relation to human suffering.

Watching a few “how-to” videos on YouTube doesn’t make you an expert. To really know “how-to” change a tire, make puff pastry, or play the piano, you have to do it. Through experience, you discover new dimensions of your knowledge — from finding holes in your reasoning, to growing in flexibility and nuance, to even reassessing who you are and maybe even what you believe in. In this episode, you’ll hear a story of such a discovery with guest Dr. Tom Rudelius, a theoretical physicist and string theory researcher with degrees from Cornell and Harvard. Tom's story is shared in his new memoir: Chasing Proof, Finding Faith. This episode follows the arc of Tom’s book — how he and his twin grew up, to the lie detector test that sparked his faith in Jesus, to the deepening of his faith even in the face of mental illness, anxiety, and doubt. Order Tom's book, Chasing Proof, Finding Faith Sign up for our newsletter here. Visit veritas.org to learn more about the mission of the Veritas Forum and find more resources to explore the ideas that shape our lives

Do you remember your last biology class? Maybe it’s been decades since your junior year of high school. Or maybe you just went to lab last Thursday. But no matter what you do or don’t remember from biology, this episode is for you. Today, our speaker invites you to consider your biology — what you’re made of and why it matters. In this Forum excerpt from March 2023, you’ll hear from Dr. Praveen Sethupathy, a genomics researcher at Cornell University and director of Cornell’s Center for Vertebrate Genomics. Dr. Sethupathy’s opening remarks in this episode showcase both his commitment to genomic research and his formation in the Christian faith. Over the next 35 minutes, you’ll find out that we humans aren’t that unique — and why that leads us towards greater understanding of our purpose, meaning, and beauty. Watch the full Forum event here. Sign up for our newsletter here. Visit veritas.org to learn more about the mission of the Veritas Forum and find more resources to explore the ideas that shape our lives