An accomplished group of literary and humanities scholars will trace Pat Conroy’s developing and defining interests in issues of faith over decades. Most immediately, panelists will consider Conroy’s relationship to specific religions, including Catholicism, the faith he was born into, and Judaism, a faith that fascinated him from boyhood. Each presenter will also offer insights about Conroy’s interpretation of faith more broadly, including the ways it shaped his notions of community, responsibility, and social justice. Collectively the panelists will explore the ways Conroy’s curiosity about issues of faith informed his work, often in exciting and unconventional ways. There will be opportunity for discussion among the panelists and audience members at the conclusion of the presentation.

Our panelists:

James A. Crank, Valinda Littlefield, Dale Rosengarten, and Catherine Seltzer