Show Notes
In today’s episode, our speakers explore some core questions about what it means to be human: What are we made for? What is the role of suffering in our lives? And is there something beyond ourselves that can give us purpose?
You’ll hear from Rowan Williams, a theologian and the former Archbishop of Canterbury, and Chigozie Obioma, a novelist and professor at the University of Georgia. Their conversation is moderated by Mia Chung-Yee, a former concert pianist and executive director of the Octet Collaborative at MIT. In this discussion, both speakers share how their Christian faith impacts their view of what it means to be human, and what it means to live “fully alive” in a dehumanizing world.
This forum was put on in partnership with the Duke Initiative on Theology and the Arts and was held at the Carolina Theater of Durham in September 2025.
Find additional resources and quotes from this forum here.
More from The Veritas Forum
In today’s episode, our speakers discuss this challenging question: What does it mean to love your enemies?
Today’s episode reckons with a common question about Christianity today: Are its truth claims too exclusive for a pluralistic and democratic society?
In today's episode, a Christian professor and an atheist professor grapple with a timeless question: if God is good and all-powerful, why is there so much suffering? You'll hear from Sean McDowell, Professor of Christian Apologetics at Biola University, and Paul Rinzler, Professor Emeritus at Cal Poly. In this conversation, moderated by Brooklyn Perry, they explore whether a divine plan can account for apparently random suffering, reckon with the implications of moral evil, and share their perspectives on finding hope amid suffering. This forum was held at Cal Poly in April 2026. Thank you to the student planning team who made this event possible. You can find a link to the full forum in the podcast description. Find additional resources and quotes on the podcast episode page here.
In today's episode, a physician and a former college dean grapple with "grind culture."
In today's episode, our speakers explore this question: How can I live a satisfied life?