Named “Alithea,” the Greek word meaning “truth,” the club will hold lecture series to deepen theological discussion on campus, said sophomore Katarina Bradford, Alithea president. The club will bring Christian speakers to campus to discuss the arguments and implications of the Christian worldview, which Student Fed members said they think will be a valuable resource for the college community.
“We get clubs all the time, but I really like the apologetics idea,” said junior Christie Mittlestaedt, Student Fed vice president. “There’s a lot of discussion between Catholics and Protestants, and it’s usually the same topics that are discussed. I think that the apologetics club will bring more different discussion topics to the table, and I think that’s a huge positive for the Hillsdale College community.”
Alithea is tentatively scheduling the series to begin in November and will bring in two speakers each semester. The club said it plans to fund its speakers largely through private donations.
“I hear a lot of different theological discussions and debates on campus,” Bradford said. “But sometimes those conversations don’t leave the level of doctrine. They don’t go deeper into what those doctrines represent: a living God that we can know and have a relationship with.”
In addition to its five-member leadership board, Alithea has attracted the interest of roughly 20 other students.
Alithea will function as a resource for religious groups that are already active on campus, sparking deeper questions and discussion topics among existing groups, Bradford said.
“Alithea’s unique because they bring in speakers to encourage discussion,” said junior Jonathan Moy, Student Fed secretary. “I think it makes everyone stronger because whether you agree with the speaker or not, you learn a lot.”
Bradford also encouraged active participation from non-Christians, hoping to broaden the range of questions raised.
“We honor what you believe, and we want you to ask these questions because we think they’re meaningful,” Bradford said. “We want to hear your objections and your side of the story so we can all learn from each other, come together, and pursue truth.”
