Peter Singer and Richard Stearns in Conversation: The Imperative to Act Against Poverty

Posted on 30 September 2009

On October 22 at 4 pm, the Hauser Center for Nonprofits Organizations and Harvard Book Store will host a conversation between two influential voices making the case (from two very different perspectives) that taking concrete action to fight global poverty is respectively a moral imperative and a Christian obligation. 

Peter Singer, acclaimed bioethics professor, argues in The Life You Can Save that the industrialized world’s response to poverty is ethically indefensible and that living an ethical life must involve giving one’s resources to the cause of fighting poverty.  Richard Stearns, CEO of World Vision U.S., argues in The Hole in Our Gospel that living a Christian life involves living out one’s faith by taking action to care for the poor and fight the systemic causes of poverty. 

Peter Singer is an atheist.  Richard Stearns is a devout Christian.  Yet, from two very different angles, these two individuals issue a powerful call to action, and their books challenge Americans to take a look at the choices they make and reflect on how they can take action on the most urgent issue of our time: global poverty. 

This event will bring Peter Singer and Richard Stearns together for a moderated conversation that will explore their two perspectives, contrast the motives of why various groups of people might take action against poverty, and take questions from the audience to further deepen the exchange.

The event begins at 4.00 pm at First Parish Church Meetinghouse (corner of Mass. Ave and Church Street in Cambridge). No tickets are required.