The Veritas Forum

Outside the historical evidence of the resurrection of Jesus, the highly improbable rise of Christianity, and the fine-tuning of the universe, there’s one simple question that hangs over the search for the real Jesus: Do miracles happen?

How do we know the disciples weren’t lying about the resurrection of Jesus? Because they were willing to die for it—at least, that’s what Christians say. But is this a convincing argument?

Drew tries to show how the world is different because of the life and teachings of Jesus. But does that prove anything about the truth of his claims?

On Hinge episode 5, Cory lays out the case against Jesus.

In January, The Veritas Forum convened 170 student writers to learn from leading Christian scholars and to write essays for their campus publications, and we devoted one writing track to the legacy of philosopher Alvin Plantinga. Widely credited with making belief in God credible in academic philosophy, Plantinga continues to influence the next generation of Christian thinkers—from philosophers to plumbers. In this podcast episode, we discuss the influence of Plantinga's life and thought with Notre Dame’s Meghan Sullivan.

What role should beauty and emotion play in the search for the real Jesus? What role might it have played for the eyewitnesses to his life?

There have been plenty of people who claimed to be special, like said-they-were-God special. Did Jesus talk about himself that way? If he didn’t, should Christians treat him as if he did?

What happens when a Christian radio show host shares live on air that he's ready to throw it all away?

What happens when an atheist and a pastor seek answers to one of the most polarizing questions in history: Who was Jesus Christ?

Before we believe that Christianity is true, philosopher Greg Ganssle thinks that we should want it to be true. He says that our longings for beauty, goodness, and freedom, are “at home in the Christian story.” At a Veritas Forum from the University of California-Irvine, Ganssle examines how our desire to flourish can lead us to faith in Jesus.

We have computers in our pockets, and we can 3-D print a house. But as our technology advances, are we better off? At a Veritas Forum from Caltech, Alana Ackerson, finance leader and entrepreneur, and Christopher Hitchcock, professor of philosophy at Caltech, explore the relationship between human progress, our technological capacity, and the role of religion in shaping conversations about the future.

Pediatric oncologist Ray Barfield lost his Christian faith after witnessing the suffering of children with cancer. Though he later returned to Christianity, his doubts transformed his perspective on human flourishing. At a Veritas Forum from the University of Washington, Barfield observers how it’s not so much the absence of suffering but our response to it that fosters wholeness. Moderated by Max Hunter, Assistant Professor of Biology; Director of PPHS at Seattle Pacific University

For the religious believer and atheist alike, the problem of evil is troubling. If there is a God, why does he allow evil? And if there isn’t a God, how we can say that anything is evil? At a Veritas Forum from Harvard Medical School, Oxford Mathematician John Lennox addresses one of the most challenging human questions: Why do we suffer?

The Bible is the bestselling book of all time, but is it true? During a Veritas Forum at Harvard, New Testament scholar and theologian N.T. Wright and Harvard philosophy professor Sean Kelly, discuss history's most influential book.

Last Thursday at the Veritas Forum at Harvard, we were fortunate enough to host Rachael Denhollander, the first woman to publicly accuse Larry Nasser of sexual abuse. Her story is one of immense courage, guided by an unwavering pursuit of justice and a hope in a God that will one day make all things right.