Photo Courtesy of the Veritas Forum at Pepperdine
This year’s Veritas Forum will feature Ravi Zacharias, Christian apologist and the founder and president of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, who will speak on “What Gives Humans Value” and delve into the big questions of faith and the existence of God on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Firestone Fieldhouse.
Zacharias has authored several books and bestsellers, including The Grand Weaver and Light in the Shadow of Jihad.
Zacharias’ topic this year is applicable to everyone, regardless of background, Veritas Club President Callaghan McDonough said.
“He pursues truth from a place of love and not from a place of trying to destroy others’ beliefs systems or combat them,” McDonough said. “Although he is arguing very much for the truth of his beliefs, he is doing it with a respect for other people’s beliefs and a desire for them to know the truth,” which to Zacharias is Jesus Christ.
The Veritas Forum, hosted by the Office of the Chaplain, is a non-profit organization that now partners with more than 60 schools and universities worldwide. Veritas Forums are held annually at different universities, such as UCLA, Stanford and UC Davis. This is Pepperdine’s fifth year hosting the event.
“Veritas” is the Latin word for “the pursuit of truth,” which is what the Forums aim to achieve through engaging speeches and discussions, according to the Veritas Forum website.
McDonough said he truly respects Zacharias for what he does and for the loving person he is.
“I admire his passion and his fervent search for the truth but also his ultimate basis of his apologetic being love: love for other people, love for God and love for truth,” McDonough said.
Junior Nyah Wilson, who has attended a Veritas Forum before, said she believes the variety of discussions that the forums have are important to help students to understand different perspectives.
“I liked hearing different insightful outlooks,” she said. “I think it raises a lot of interesting questions that sometimes Pepperdine students aren’t comfortable talking about, so it’s good to get the conversations happening.”
Wilson said questioning certain religious issues “will strengthen students’ faith and find meaning” for what they believe in.
Zacharias will speak for both the Pepperdine community and anyone else who wants to attend the event on Tuesday night. To attend the Veritas Forum, students can register on Facebook.
Wednesday Convocation on Feb. 17 will also feature Zacharias, who will speak on why he chose Jesus.
__________________
Follow Carolina Pinto on Twitter: @caroli_mmp
