The Veritas Forum

Latest Episodes:

Two Scientists Share Stories of Awe & Wonder | Sethupathy & Hecht Mar 06, 2025

Show notes

In today’s episode, two scientists with different spiritual worldviews explore this question: How can science and spirituality co-exist?

You’ll hear from Praveen Sethupathy, a genomics professor at Cornell, and Michael Hecht, a chemistry professor at Princeton. In this conversation, they explore what science and spirituality can learn from one another and how they experience wonder in their research.

This virtual forum was held at Princeton in May 2021. Thank you to the forums team for making this event possible.

Find additional resources and quotes on the podcast episode page here.

Can We Pick and Choose Our Beliefs? | Muehlhoff & Barrett Feb 20, 2025

Show notes

In today’s episode, two professors with different approaches to faith discuss the question: Can I be spiritual but not religious?

You’ll hear from Tim Muehlhoff, a professor of communications at Biola University, and Elizabeth Barrett, a lecturer in psychology at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly). They discuss their spiritual and religious worldviews, how they define spirituality, and whether picking and choosing what we believe is liberating or harmful. Their conversation is moderated by Stephen Lloyd-Moffet, a professor of religious studies at Cal Poly.

This forum was held at Cal Poly in May 2024. Thank you to the forums team for making this event possible.

Find additional resources and quotes on the podcast episode page here.

What to Do With Limited Time | Lydia Dugdale & Timothy Bono Feb 06, 2025

Show notes

In today’s episode, two professors discuss how we should live when facing limited time. What does it mean to live each day like it’s your last? Is that a bad idea?

You’ll hear from Lydia Dugdale, a medical ethicist at Columbia, and Timothy Bono, a psychologist at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU). They explore why considering our mortality is important for living well and what practical steps one can take to live intentionally. Their conversation is moderated by Nic Koziolek, a lecturer in philosophy at WashU.

This forum was held at WashU in April 2023. Thank you to the forums team for making this event possible.

Find additional resources and quotes on the podcast episode page here.

Looking for More: Two Professors on Religion & Transcendence | Smith & Fischer Jan 23, 2025

Show notes

In today’s episode, two professors explore questions like: Is there more to life than meets the eye? Or, what do we turn to when we face challenging circumstances?

You'll hear from Jamie Smith, a philosophy professor at Calvin University, and Ted Fischer, an anthropology professor at Vanderbilt. In this conversation moderated by a Vanderbilt student, Isabella Gomez, they discuss the desire to look beyond ourselves, the role of mystery in faith, and where they find hope in times of crisis.

This forum was held at Vanderbilt in October 2024. Thank you to the forums team for making this event possible.

Find additional resources and quotes on the podcast episode page here.

Christian & Atheist Views on Human Uniqueness | Swamidass & Langland-Hassan Jan 09, 2025

Show notes

In today’s episode, a Christian and an atheist engage in a wide-ranging discussion about what makes humans special. Are we just advanced animals or part of a larger story with a beginning, middle, and end?

You’ll hear from Joshua Swamidass, a professor of biomedical engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, and Peter Langland-Hassan, a philosopher at the University of Cincinnati. In this conversation, they discuss how their different worldviews influence their understanding of evolution, humanity, and moral choices.

This virtual forum event was held at the University of Cincinnati in October 2021. Thank you to the forums team for making this event possible.

Find additional resources and quotes on the podcast episode page here.

That's a Wrap! Best Episodes of 2024 Dec 19, 2024

Show notes

We’ve made it to the end of another amazing year on the podcast — all thanks to you, our listeners! We loved exploring the ideas that shape our lives with you this year!

In this episode, Seth (our podcast host and video producer at The Veritas Forum) shares some stats from the podcast in 2024 and our top three episodes of the year. We feature excerpts from Molly Worthen (UNC), Jonathan Haidt (NYU), Andy Crouch (Praxis), Wendy Suzuki (NUY), and Arthur Brooks (Harvard).

Listen to Changing My Mind: A Skeptical Professor Meets a Surprising God | Molly Worthen
Listen to Hey Siri, How Do I Find Myself? A Conversation on Spirituality & Technology | Haidt & Crouch
Listen to Happier Doctor—Healthier Patient? | Arthur Brooks & Bernard Chang
Find additional resources and quotes on the podcast episode page here.

A Case for Believing in Miracles | John Lennox Dec 05, 2024

Show notes

During the Christmas season, we love experiencing wonder and magic. Santa Claus, presents, Christmas music, and twinkling lights make us feel the “Christmas spirit.”

But Christians believe the ultimate Christmas wonder was a baby. A miracle. God became human. Something so unlikely and incredible that it altered the world forever.

In today’s episode, you’ll hear Oxford mathematician John Lennox explore the possibility of miracles. He explains what miracles are, if science can disprove them, and why miracles like the Incarnation and Resurrection change everything if they really happened.

This forum was held at Harvard Medical School in 2012. Thank you to the forums team for making this event possible.

Find additional resources and quotes on the podcast episode page here.

Literature, Meaning, & Faith | Lori Branch Nov 21, 2024

Show notes

In today’s episode, an English professor explores the question of meaning. What compels us to look for meaning? And, is meaning found within ourselves or outside of ourselves?

You’ll hear from Lori Branch, an English professor at the University of Iowa. In this talk, she explores why we seek meaning, how we find meaning in our relationship with others, and how her Christian faith fulfills her search for meaning.

This forum was held at Furman University in March 2024. Thank you to the forums team for making this event possible.

Find additional resources and quotes on the podcast episode page here.

Why You Should Embrace Being Wrong | Buie & Gleiser Nov 07, 2024

Show notes

In today’s episode, two professors discuss this question: Why is it so hard to admit when we don’t know something? And why does it matter in the academic environment?

You’ll hear from Cullen Buie, professor of biological engineering at MIT, and Marcelo Gleiser, professor of physics and astronomy at Dartmouth. In this conversation, moderated by Hannah Eagleson (Emerging Scholars Network, InterVarsity), they discuss the importance of intellectual humility, how they see its impact in their lives, and why their religious worldviews encourage it.

This virtual forum was a Faculty Roundtable event hosted at MIT in August 2020. Thank you to the forums team for making this event possible.

Find additional resources and quotes on the podcast episode page here.

Hey Siri, How Do I Find Myself? A Conversation on Spirituality & Technology | Haidt & Crouch Oct 17, 2024

Show notes

It’s not hard to figure out what to do with our phones. But what is hard to figure out is what our phones are doing to us.

Today’s speakers have written a lot about this topic. The first speaker is Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist at NYU and author of, The Anxious Generation, which has topped the New York Times bestseller list for 27 weeks in a row. In dialogue with Jon is Andy Crouch, a partner for theology and culture at Praxis Labs and author of the book, The Life We’re Looking For.

In this conversation, Jon and Andy discuss the effects of technology on our personal and spiritual lives and whether flourishing is possible without our phones. Their discussion is moderated by Wendy Suzuki, the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, professor of neural science at NYU, and author of the book Good Anxiety.

Find additional resources and quotes on the podcast episode page here.

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