Are We Better Off Divided? | David French & Angela Simms
March 23, 2021

The Veritas Forum
In the aftermath of a contentious election season, we may find ourselves questioning the future of a nation that seems irreparably divided. We may ask questions such as, “is political and/or social unity possible or even desirable?” and, “if unity is desirable, what is the best pathway to that unity?” • Attorney, author, and political commentator, David French, discusses this topic with assistant professor of Sociology and Urban Studies at Barnard College, Angela Simms. Presented by the Veritas Forum at Columbia University. • Please like, share, subscribe to, and review this podcast.
More From The Veritas Forum

The Pursuit of Wholeness: Perspectives on God, Self, and Mental Health
The Veritas Forum
March 30, 2021
Perspectives on mental health and existing as a whole person from Dr. David Carreon of Stanford and Dr. John Sommers-Flanagan of the University of Mon

Mathematics for Human Flourishing | Francis Su & Mia Chung-Yee
The Veritas Forum
April 6, 2021
For many people, math is cold and lifeless, a bunch of rules to follow---a way to separate people rather than a way to bring them together. It’s no wo

Should Some Books Not Be Read? | Dhananjay Jagannathan & Tara Isabella Burton
The Veritas Forum
April 13, 2021
The Veritas Forum at Columbia presents a discussion on the moral power of literature. A conversation between Columbia Philosophy Professor Dr. Dhananj

Music Making as a Picture of Human Flourishing | Mia Chung-Yee
The Veritas Forum
March 16, 2021
Octet Collaborative’s founder and board chair Mia Chung-Yee, an accomplished concert pianist and professor of musical studies, spoke to students at Ca

Shame & Spirituality: Living as a Whole Person in a Disembodied World | Curt Thompson
The Veritas Forum
March 9, 2021
Psychiatrist Curt Thompson, M.D. addresses the role of shame in our mental and spiritual lives. Presented by the Veritas Forum at Harvard University •

Human Identity and the Meaning of Artificial Intelligence | Joshua Swamidass
The Veritas Forum
March 2, 2021
A Conversation with a Secular Humanist, Jurist and Law Professor, Ryan Calo, and a Christian, Scientist and Bioengineer Professor, Josh Swamidass, abo
More on OpenTheo

Why Is It Necessary to Believe Jesus Is God?
#STRask
February 19, 2026
Questions about why it’s necessary to believe Jesus is God, whether belief in the Trinity is required for salvation, and why one has to believe in the

Life and Ministry in Charlotte and in the SBC with Clint Pressley
Life and Books and Everything
December 15, 2025
In a rare cultural anomaly that may never be repeated in our lifetimes, the current SBC President and current PCA Moderator live in the same neighborh

Why Are So Many Christians Condemning LGB People Just Because of How They Love?
#STRask
January 15, 2026
Questions about Christians condemning LGB people just because of how they love, how God can expect someone to be celibate when others are free to marr

Does God Really Need a “Pound of Flesh” to Forgive Sins?
#STRask
January 12, 2026
Questions about how to answer the challenge that God doesn’t need a “pound of flesh” to forgive sins but can simply forgive, and whether the claim in

Would You Say God’s Primary Object Is to Not Be Found?
#STRask
March 19, 2026
Questions about whether God’s primary object is to not be found, how one can say God doesn’t make mistakes if the percentage of Christians in the worl

Isn’t the Covenant in Scripture Explicitly with Israel and Not the Gentile Nations?
#STRask
March 12, 2026
Questions about what gives modern Christians confidence that they’ve inherited the Jews’ covenant with God if Scripture explicitly says it was with Is

How Would You Convince Someone That Evil Exists?
#STRask
November 17, 2025
Questions about how to convince someone that evil exists, whether Charlie Kirk’s murder was part of God’s plan, whether that would mean the murderer d

What Is the Role of the Holy Spirit in Our Lives if He Doesn’t Give Us Instructions?
#STRask
February 23, 2026
Questions about the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives, advice for someone who believes in God intellectually but struggles to understand how to hav

Does God Hear the Prayers of Non-Believers?
#STRask
February 26, 2026
Questions about whether or not God hears and answers the prayers of non-believers, and thoughts about a church sign that reads (as if from God), “Just

Why Do We Say Someone Was Saved on a Particular Date If It Was Part of an Eternal Plan?
#STRask
November 24, 2025
Questions about why we say someone was saved on a particular date if it was part of an eternal plan, the Roman Catholic view of the gospel vs. the Bib

Is Greg Placing His Faith in the Wrong Thing?
#STRask
February 12, 2026
Questions about Greg placing his faith in his personal assessment of which truth claims best match reality rather than in the revelation of God in Jes

When I Can’t Stop Thinking About Something, Is That God Speaking?
#STRask
December 1, 2025
Questions about whether having a recurring thought is an indication God is speaking to you, what to say to someone who says they sinned because “God t

What About Those Who Never Heard the Name of Jesus?
#STRask
December 22, 2025
Questions about what will happen to those who never heard of Jesus or were brought up in a different faith, whether there’s biblical warrant to think

The Best of Times and the Worst of Times with Justin Taylor and Collin Hansen
Life and Books and Everything
March 10, 2026
If you don’t like freewheeling conversation, laughter, and banter among friends, then this may not be the episode for you. But if you are interested i

Why Is There No Effort Towards a Neutral Interpretation of Scripture?
#STRask
March 9, 2026
Questions about why there is no effort towards a neutral interpretation of Scripture that doesn’t take denominational preferences into account, and ho
