Religion: the God Question (2009): Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books began in 1996 with a simple goal: to bring together the people who create books with the people who love to read them. The festival was an immediate success and has become the largest and most prestigious book festival in the country, attracting more than 130,000 book lovers each year.
Zachary Karabell is the president of RiverTwice Research, where he analyzes economic and political trends. He is the author of several books, including Parting the Desert and Peace Be Upon You. Karabell's next book, In the Red will be published in the fall.

Chris Hedges is the author of numerous best-selling books and as a seasoned journalist was part of a team that received the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting. His most recent book is When Atheism Becomes Religion: America's New Fundamentalists.

William Lobdell is an award-winning journalist, author, blogger, speaker, college lecturer and media consultant. His memoir, Losing My Religion: How I Lost My Faith Reporting on Religion in America - and Found Unexpected Peace, was published earlier this year.

Rabbi David Wolpe is the rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles and a teacher of modern Jewish religious thought at UCLA. He writes for many publications, including the Jewish Week and Jerusalem Post. Rabbi Wolpe's latest book is Why Faith Matters.