Cliffe Knechtle Engages in Campus Dialogue with Muslim Student at University of Connecticut

In April 2009, Christian apologist Cliffe Knechtle participated in a public dialogue with students at the University of Connecticut, engaging in a wide-ranging discussion that included a debate with a Muslim student about the Bible and core questions of Christian faith. The exchange was part of Knechtle’s long-running campus outreach effort, which emphasizes open conversation, respectful disagreement, and direct engagement with students in public university spaces.

The event took place outdoors near the university’s student union, a setting Knechtle has consistently chosen throughout his ministry. Rather than delivering extended sermons, Knechtle typically begins with a brief talk lasting five to ten minutes, outlining central Christian claims about Jesus Christ, faith, reason, and moral responsibility. Afterward, he opens the floor to questions, inviting students of all backgrounds and beliefs to participate.

At the University of Connecticut, the discussion quickly expanded as students gathered between classes. Among them was a Muslim student who challenged Knechtle on the reliability of the Bible, the divinity of Jesus, and theological differences between Christianity and Islam. The conversation unfolded as a dialogue rather than a formal debate, with both participants articulating their beliefs and responding to each other’s questions in front of a growing audience.

Observers noted that the exchange reflected Knechtle’s broader approach to campus ministry: encouraging critical thinking, welcoming skepticism, and engaging directly with opposing viewpoints. As students listened, asked follow-up questions, and offered counterarguments, the discussion extended well beyond its initial timeframe, lasting several hours as new participants joined throughout the day.

The University of Connecticut event was one of many similar dialogues Knechtle has conducted across the United States. His campus engagements have included appearances at institutions such as Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Florida, the University of Texas, the University of Wisconsin, the University of Minnesota, and multiple University of California campuses, including Los Angeles, San Diego, and Berkeley. He has also spoken at Stanford University, the University of Hawaii, the University of Washington, and the University of Maine.

These campus dialogues eventually became the foundation for the “Give Me An Answer” ministry, which grew out of Knechtle’s belief that university students are eager to wrestle with life’s biggest questions when given an open forum. Crowd sizes at these events have ranged from small groups of around 25 students to gatherings of more than 500, depending on location and timing.

Supporters of the ministry describe the approach as an effective way to reach students who may not attend traditional religious services but are willing to engage in public discussion. Critics, meanwhile, have raised concerns about the appropriateness of religious debate in public university spaces, though Knechtle’s events typically operate within campus free-speech guidelines.

More than a decade later, recordings of the University of Connecticut dialogue continue to circulate online, drawing renewed interest from viewers interested in interfaith discussion, Christian apologetics, and the role of religion in academic settings. The 2009 exchange remains a notable example of how public dialogue on faith can unfold within the marketplace of ideas found on college campuses.