Abstract
In this lecture, Vishal Mangalwadi contrasts the roots of Swiss higher education through the mottos of Geneva (“Light after darkness”) and Bern (“Knowledge creates value”). He explores how Christianity founded universities to seek truth under God’s light, shaping Switzerland’s moral and intellectual legacy, and contrasts this with the Enlightenment’s reliance on human reason. Mangalwadi questions whether knowledge and values remain sustainable once detached from their biblical foundations.
Vishal Mangalwadi (born 1949, India) is a philosopher, author, and reformer known for showing how the Bible shaped Western civilization. Educated in philosophy in Allahabad and Indore, he also studied in Hindu ashrams and at L’Abri under Francis Schaeffer. His master’s thesis became his first book, *The World of Gurus* (1977). He co-founded TRACI and ACRA for social reform and later launched the Revelation Movement to promote education grounded in biblical principles. Author of over 20 books, including *The Book That Made Your World* and *The Third Revolution of Education*, he has lectured globally on faith and culture. Since 2013, he has served as Honorary Professor at the Sam Higginbottom Institute, receiving the U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Medallion in 2024.
