Ekklesia Sponsors Visiting Speaker

Ekklesia campus ministry is partnering with the Kirksville Church of Christ for a series of lectures from John Clayton, March 24-26.

A devout atheist until his early twenties, Clayton was part of the same organized atheist group that made Madalyn Murray O’Hair famous. He decided to write a book called “All the Stupidity of the Bible,” but instead found himself slowly becoming convinced about Christianity. Today, he travels the U.S. giving some 40 lectures per year on the subject “Does God Exist?” A retired teacher and geologist by profession, Clayton taught for 41 years in public schools in South Bend, Ind. He maintains a website that stresses science and faith are not enemies, but friends.

The lectureship begins at 7 p.m. March 24 in Violette Hall 1000. The first program focuses on “Does God Exist?” Question and answer sessions will follow each program.

A special question and answer lunch is available from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. March 25 in the Missouri Hall Chariton Room. Students may use their IDs to enter, but the seating is limited to 50 people for this event.

The second program considers “What Is God, and Who Created God?” It will take place at 7 p.m. March 25 in Violette Hall 1000. A free exhibit, with free materials, will also be provided.

The venue moves to the Kirksville Church of Christ, March 26. Clayton will speak on “The New Atheism” at 10 a.m. and “Why I Left Atheism” at 11 a.m. After a free noon lunch, the concluding program will take a look at evolution in “Jurassic Park” and Genesis at 1:30-3:30 p.m.