Does the Modern World Still Work?

Would the world be worse off without religion?" was the opening question in this wide-ranging dialogue about the role of religion in modern life. The panel was moderated by USC University Professor Kevin Starr -- 2006 National Humanities Medal winner and former California state librarian -- who is currently working on a history of American Catholicism. Panelists were Jack Miles (Pulitzer Prize-winning author of God: A Biography), Amir Hussain (a theological studies professor at Loyola Marymount University) and Julia Sweeney (widely known for her Saturday Night Live role as the androgynous character Pat, and also the author of the 2006 performance piece, Letting Go of God). The event, which took place on March 31, 2008, was part of "Dialogues," an ongoing series co-sponsored by the USC Libraries, the Los Angeles Institute for the Humanities and Visions and Voices: The USC Arts and Humanities Initiative.