A Christian writer and social scientist said there are five steps to beginning to understand the meaning of life Monday night during a discussion with students and faculty.
Os Guinness said these steps are: recognize sources of evil, listen to questions, consider modernity of evil, assess different interpretations and take appropriate action.
Guinness engaged approximately 350 students with the question: “Where is God in Suffering and Injustice?” in Nielson Hall as a part of the Veritas Forum.
Guinness lectured and a discussion with the audience members followed.
“Nobody here has all the answers. I don’t have all the answers,” Guinness said. “There are no experts on evil.”
Guinness holds a doctorate from Oxford University and has written more than 25 books.
“Suffering and evil are truly the greatest mystery we humans face in life,” Guinness said.
Guinness said suffering has three sources: one’s body, nature and other human beings.
He said the three deep questions humans ask when suffering are: “why me?” “where is God?” and “how can I stand to continue living?“
He said even atheists have blamed God for suffering.
“Something happens that is so irrational and so unjust that there must be an explanation,” Guinness said. “They think someone must be responsible.”
Guinness said there is a profound need for a sense of realism in order to understand evil better.
“Utopianism is the greatest evil of all,” Guinness said.
Guinness said the last needs are to forgive and to step out to take action against evil.
“Even evil and suffering can be a rock of faith for those who know God,” Guinness said.
Doug Serven, director of Reformed University Fellowship, said a Harvard student started the Veritas Forum approximately 20 years ago because she wanted to discuss the truth of topics.
Serven said hundreds of universities across the country have Veritas Forum discussions, which include other topics such as science, justice, art and sex trafficking.
“I know across the board on campus, this is a common question,” said Julie Jarrett, OU campus liaison for the Veritas Forum. “It’s not something that is normally talk about.”
Jarett, public relations senior, said the OU leaders who brought the Veritas Forum to OU chose the topic of tragedies because of the 15th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, other recent international tragedies such as the Haiti and Chile earthquakes and smaller things in each person’s life.
“We at OU feel like people want to and need to talk about the truth,” Serven said. “And we want to be a part of that discussion and to get that conversation going.”
Serven said about 10 campus ministries worked together to bring the Veritas Forum to OU.
He said the target audience was anyone searching for the truth, both Christians and non-Christians.
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aeboy 2 years ago
'He said even atheists have blamed God for suffering.
“Something happens that is so irrational and so unjust that there must be an explanation,” Guinness said. “They think someone must be responsible.”'
The what now? Atheists do not believe in a god. How and why would we blame something or someone that we do not believe exists? Or is this to contribute to the 'Atheists hate Gawwd!!!!1111' fallacy?
terri 2 years ago
Os Guinness says no one has all the answers, not even he, but yet Julie Jarrett says the target audience is anyone searching for the truth.
But I thought Guinness doesn't have the answers...no one does. That gets you to the truth, uh, HOW?