2016 Founders’ Day Lecture
On April 18, Dr. Friedhelm K. Radandt, the third president of The King’s College, delivered the inaugural Founder’s Day address on campus in the City Room. The title of his lecture was “Evil and the Human Conscience.”
On April 18, Dr. Friedhelm K. Radandt, the third president of The King’s College, delivered the inaugural Founder’s Day address on campus in the City Room. The title of his lecture was “Evil and the Human Conscience.”
Before addressing his subject matter in depth, Dr. Radandt opened with a “highlights reel” of institutional history from his years as president. “I am the fellow on whose watch The King’s College closed its doors,” he began, and proceeded to list story after story of faith and providence, leaving the assembled listeners in little doubt as to God’s hand in the reopening and relocation of the College.
“The King’s College has one of the more colorful histories in the field of higher education,” said President Gregory Alan Thornbury; “a history that includes both the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, and also amazing episodes of divine providence. Had it not been for the third president of The King’s College, The King’s College would not now be in New York City, and we thank him for his part in giving us the chance to have this exhilarating mission in downtown New York.”
Dr. Radandt’s lecture, a meditation on the writings of Swiss dramatist Max Frisch and German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, examined how people decide to act when they are confronted by forces of evil. Dr. Radandt examined the concept of acting responsibly in such circumstances toward those in one’s protection and toward the common good—and ways in which Christians can evaluate the moral dilemmas that arise when such evil is in play.