Each year Calvin University offers 15 free lectures in their January Speaker Series. It’s been running for 30 years, and is open to the public to cultivate thought and conversations about important issues.
Director Michael Wildschut says the focus is on how to think, not what to think. He encourages members of the community to listen to viewpoints that might differ from their own.
“You might leave at the end of the day in the day in exactly the same spot you were but at least you open the door to the possibility that you might come out of it with a different understanding.”
Some years topics can be controversial but Wildschut says the focus is on developing a posture of listening and learning, and open conversation.
“We have poetry, we have the future of work, and we have AI and we have a rock climber and we have building conversations around the table. All things where we can hopefully learn a little about the subject and about ourselves.”
You can listen three ways – on campus, online, or at a remote site through local churches and community centers. Details are on Calvin University’s website.
The Series runs January 15 - February 2.
