May 3 | powerHouseArena | Brooklyn

With Benjamin Anastas, Nadeem Aslam, Brian Evenson, and Jan Kjærstad; moderated by Albert Mobilio

Religion and religious faith are increasingly making their presence felt throughout the world in both politics and culture. Our panel will discuss some of the questions this change raises: if fiction is make-believe and faith is must-believe, can writers reconcile the absolutes of religious faith with the necessary uncertainties that attend both the production and reception of stories? Is what is meant by religious truth the same as artistic truth? If these truths are indeed different—and perhaps profoundly so—how might a novelist serve two masters?

Cosponsored by Bookforum and powerHouse Arena

  LISTEN
• Entire event (1:24:06)

PHOTO GALLERY
• View the photo gallery on Flickr

PEN Blogs

• Robert Flynn:
The panel on Faith and Fiction was the one I most wanted to attend. I disagree with the premise that fiction is make-believe and faith is must believe. [More]