In Search of Something More: Stories of Suffering, Belief, and What It All Means (Veritas Forum)
College is a time for searching. We’re searching for jobs, friendships, and other things that make life meaningful. But when the search fails us, or we suffer from things out of our control, where do we find our purpose? Is there something beyond ourselves — something spiritual or transcendent— that can give us hope?
At this Veritas Forum event at UNC-Chapel Hill, Molly Worthen (historian, UNC) will moderate a conversation between New York Times columnist Ross Douthat (author, Believe) and Duke professor Frank Bruni (author, The Age of Grievance). Hear both speakers explore their stories of illness and vision loss, their different experiences with spirituality and religion, and where to begin in the search for meaning.
After the moderated conversation, there will be audience Q&R (question & response). Doors open at 7:30 PM and there will be light dinner from The Root Cellar provided. Register now!
Please note: This event will take place at the Sonja Haynes Stone Center on UNC’s campus.
Speakers:
Ross Douthat
Ross Douthat joined The New York Times as an Opinion columnist in April 2009. His column appears every Tuesday and Sunday. He is also a host on the weekly Opinion podcast, “Matter of Opinion.” Previously, he was a senior editor at The Atlantic and a blogger on its website.
Frank Bruni
Professor of the Practice of Journalism and Public Policy in the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University.
Frank Bruni joined the Duke faculty in 2021 after 25 years on the staff of the New York Times, where he remains a contributing Opinion writer and where he previously served as a Metro reporter, a White House correspondent, the Rome bureau chief, the chief restaurant critic and, for 10 years, an Op-Ed columnist who appeared frequently as a television commentator.
Moderator:
Molly Worthen
Molly Worthen is an associate professor of history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a freelance journalist. She received her BA and PhD from Yale University. Her research focuses on North American religious and intellectual history.
