
Faith, Race, and Hip-Hop at Harvard | An Interview with Obasi Shaw
The Veritas Forum — The Veritas ForumFaith, Race, and Hip-Hop at Harvard | An Interview with Obasi Shaw
May 24, 2017

The Veritas Forum
Obasi Shaw has recently hit the news as the first Harvard student to submit a rap album as his senior thesis. The album, entitled "Liminal Minds," represents a coming together of Obasi's interests, ranging from Chaucer, to hip-hop, to the pursuit of racial justice. But the key theme that connects all his thoughts and experiences is his passion for Jesus and for applying the gospel of the crucified God to the murky complexities of human life. In this interview, Obasi explores the album in relation to his faith.
More From The Veritas Forum

Christianity and the Tooth Fairy | John Lennox at UCLA
The Veritas Forum
June 3, 2017
Children believe in the tooth fairy until their reasoning capabilities mature and they recognize this belief is neither grounded nor relevant. Does be

Is Belief in God irrational? | Meghan Sullivan
The Veritas Forum
June 11, 2017
Notre Dame philosophy professor, Meghan Sullivan, shares the journey by which – to her own surprise – she became convinced by the truth-claims of the

The Multiverse, the Polygraph, and the Resurrection | Tom Rudelius
The Veritas Forum
July 1, 2017
Our latest podcast episode features an interview with rising physicist Tom Rudelius. We discuss String Theory, polygraph tests, fine-tuning, and our p

The Bible: Gospel, Guide, or Garbage? | N.T. Wright & Sean Kelly at Harvard
The Veritas Forum
May 12, 2017
How should we read the Bible? Our latest podcast features New Testament Scholar and Theologian NT Wright and Harvard Philosopher Sean Kelly, who discu

Under God? | Michael Sandel & Jean Bethke Elshtain
The Veritas Forum
April 28, 2017
Throughout our 25 year history, we've had the privilege of creating conversations between some of academia's giants and of modeling dialogue across di

Connecting Passion and Purpose | charity: water Founder Scott Harrison
The Veritas Forum
April 14, 2017
In March, we launched our Veritas Cities Forums in Seattle, a series of events designed to foster a vibrant public square that invites globally-engage
More on OpenTheo

How Do I Determine Which Topics at Work Are Worth Commenting On?
#STRask
January 5, 2026
Questions about how to determine which topics at work are worth commenting on, and a good way to respond when you’re in a group Bible study and hear e

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

The Historical Perspective vs. The Theological Perspective on the Resurrection: Are Both Valid?
Risen Jesus
October 1, 2025
This episode is a discussion between Dr. Mike Licona and then PhD candidate Laura Robinson on the Capturing Christianity podcast. While both scholars

How Do I Reconcile the Image of God as Judge with His Love, Grace, and Kindness?
#STRask
October 20, 2025
Questions about how to reconcile the image of God as a judge with his love, grace, and kindness, why our sins are considered to be sins against God, a

Is It a Sin to Feel Let Down by God?
#STRask
November 6, 2025
Questions about whether it’s a sin to feel let down by God and whether it would be easier to have a personal relationship with a rock than with a God

How Could the Similarities Between Krishna and Jesus Be a Coincidence?
#STRask
October 9, 2025
Questions about how the similarities between Krishna and Jesus could be a coincidence and whether there’s any proof to substantiate the idea that Jesu

Are You Accursed If You Tithe?
#STRask
December 15, 2025
Questions about whether anyone who tithes is not a Christian and is accursed since Paul says that if you obey one part of the Mosaic Law you’re obliga

After the Crucifixion, was Jesus Resurrected or Rescued? Licona vs. Ally
Risen Jesus
October 8, 2025
This episode is a 2016 debate held at the University of Tennessee – Chattanooga between Dr. Michael Licona and Dr. Shabir Ally, president of the Islam

Why Does the Bible Teach You How to Be a Proper Slave Owner?
#STRask
November 13, 2025
Question about why it seems like the Bible teaches you how to be a proper slave owner rather than than saying, “Stop it. Give them freedom.”
* It s

Should You Believe Things You Can’t Fully Comprehend?
#STRask
September 25, 2025
Questions about whether you should believe things you can’t fully comprehend, whether it’s just an arbitrary escape hatch to say God doesn’t require a

What Tools of Reasoning Help You Know What’s True, Right, and Good?
#STRask
December 4, 2025
Question about what tools of reasoning help us determine whether something is true or false, right or wrong, good or bad before bringing Scripture int

John Thomson and the Shaping of American Presbyterianism with Stephen A. Fix
Life and Books and Everything
September 29, 2025
If you are looking for a deep dive into the history of early American Presbyterianism, you have come to the right place! Listen in as Kevin talks with

Protestants and Catholics: What’s the Difference? With Chad Van Dixhoorn, Blair Smith, and Mark McDowell
Life and Books and Everything
November 26, 2025
How should Protestants think about the Catholic Mass? About the Eucharist? About the history and development of the papacy? In this panel discussion,

The Man on the Middle Cross with Alistair Begg
Life and Books and Everything
November 10, 2025
If you haven’t seen the viral clip, go see it right now. In this episode, Kevin talks to Alistair about the preaching clip he didn’t intend to give, h

Do Christians Need to Believe that Jesus was Raised Bodily from the Dead? Licona vs. Patterson
Risen Jesus
October 15, 2025
In this episode, Dr. Stephen Patterson, New Testament professor at Eden Theological Seminary, argues against the bodily resurrection of Jesus, contend