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Head of the Class
May 15, 2013

USC valedictorian Katherine Fu and salutatorians Alexander Fullman and Julia Sabo Mangione — all in USC Dornsife — will…

The Fabulous Fulbrights
May 10, 2013

Congratulations to the nine USC Dornsife students who won 2013 Fulbright Scholarships. The award will take them to India,…

Preventing Another Darfur
April 23, 2013

For the 13th consecutive year, professor Steven Lamy, vice dean for academic programs in USC Dornsife, led the Center for…

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Scientist and Filmmaker
May 17, 2013

Howard Wayne Harris proves his 9th grade teacher wrong. Earning his Ph.D. at the USC Dornsife hooding ceremony May 16, he was…

You Did It!
May 17, 2013

USC Dornsife issued more than 2,500 degrees during Commencement 2013: 1,959 bachelor’s, 326 master's, 81 graduate…

Amazing Adventures in Undergrad Research
May 15, 2013

USC Dornsife students win top prizes at the 15th Annual Undergraduate Symposium for Scholarly and Creative Work. In…

Head of the Class
May 15, 2013

USC valedictorian Katherine Fu and salutatorians Alexander Fullman and Julia Sabo Mangione — all in USC Dornsife — will…

A Big Leg Up
May 15, 2013

Introducing the 2013 Dornsife Scholars. The six winners will each receive $10,000 to be used for graduate or professional…

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James Lewis Heft

Alton M. Brooks Professor of Religion

Contact Information
E-mail: heft@usc.edu
Phone: (213) 740-3055
Office: URC 102

LINKS
Curriculum Vitae
Personal Website
 

Conferences and Other Presentations

Conference Presentations

"Today's College Students and Spirituality", Lecture/Seminar, La Jolla Chapter of Legatus, Invited, 02/17/2011-  
"Major Challenges Facing Catholic Higher Education Today", Lecture/Seminar, ACCU, Invited, 01/31/2011-  
".", The Life of Faith in Contemporary Culture., Workshop, Los Angeles Diocese, Invited, 06/09/2011-06/16/2011  
"Catholicism and Islam: The Current State of the Dialogue.", Lecture/Seminar, Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies , Invited by US Ambassador, Invited, 05/20/2011  
"Interfaith Panel", Roundtable/Panel, Hassan Hathout Foundation. , Invited, 04/17/2011  
"Faith and Diplomacy. ", USC’s Center on Public Diplomacy , Roundtable/Panel, Invited, 03/25/2011  
"The Humanities and Professional Education.", Lecture/Seminar, Duquesne University, Invited, 03/10/2011  
" Mission and Identity of a Catholic Jesuit University.", Workshop, John Carroll University, Invited, 03/09/2011  
"Catholic Intellectual Life: An Oxymoron?", Lecture/Seminar, St. Louis University , Invited, 03/03/2011  
"Catholic Teaching on War and Peacemaking", Lecture/Seminar, Dr. Andrew Manning's USC Peace and Conflict course, Invited, 11/01/2010  
"Religion and Violence: Three Interpretations", Lecture/Seminar, Uiversity of Dayton, Invited, 09/17/2010  
"The Catholic Universty in Post Modern Culture", Lecture/Seminar, St. Mary's University, San Antonio, Texas, Invited, 09/09/2010  
"Science and Religion", Lecture/Seminar, University ot Dayton, Invited, 07/13/2010  
"A Catholic Approach to the Dialogue with Islam", "Islam and the West", Keynote Lecture, Paper, Cairo, Egypt, Al Azhar University, Invited, 2008-2009   
"Catholic Intellectual Life", Lecture/Seminar, University of British Columbia, St. Mark's College, Invited, 2008-2009   
"Discipleship and Citizenship", Talk/Oral Presentation, Pasadena, CA, Holy Family Parish, Invited, 2008-2009   
"Ecclesiology", Roundtable/Panel, Los Angeles, Archdiocese of LA, Invited, 2008-2009   
"Interfaith Dialogue", Roundtable/Panel, Pasadena, CA, Polytechnic High School, Invited, 2008-2009   
"Mission and Identity of a Catholic University", Talk/Oral Presentation, New Rochelle, NY, Paper College of New Rochelle Board of Trustees, Invited, 2008-2009   
"Religion and Politics", Talk/Oral Presentation, Los Angeles, CA, Alumni Assoc of Loyola Law School, Invited, 2008-2009   
"Religion and Public Life", Legatus of Ventura County, Lecture/Seminar, Oxnard, CA, Invited, 2008-2009   
"Religious Pluralism and Peace", Lecture/Seminar, Honolulu, HI, Chaminade University, Invited, 2008-2009   
"Science and Religion", Talk/Oral Presentation, Newport Beach, CA, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Invited, 2008-2009   
"Spirituality of Leadership", Talk/Oral Presentation, Los Angeles, CA, Archdioces of Los Angeles, Invited, 2008-2009   
"Teaching Morality to Adolescents", LA Religious Conference, Lecture/Seminar, Anaheim, CA, Invited, 2008-2009   
"The New Atheism", Lecture/Seminar, Dayton, OH, University of Dayton, Invited, 2008-2009   
""Contemporary Culture and Catechesis," ", Lecture/Seminar, LA Religious Education Congress, Invited, 2007-2008   
"A Catholic Approach to Interreligious Dialogue", Roundtable/Panel, Pasadena, CA, Polytechnic High School , Invited, 2007-2008   
"A Catholic Approach to the Liberal Arts", Lecture/Seminar, Vancouver, B.C. Canada, St. Mark’s College, University of British Columbia, Invited, 2007-2008   
"Catholic Approaches to Interreligious Dialogue", Talk/Oral Presentation, IR class at USC, Invited, 2007-2008   
"Catholic Bishops and Catholic Politicians", Lecture/Seminar, South Pasadena, CA, Holy Family Parish , Invited, 2007-2008   
"Catholic Bishops and Catholic Politicians", Lecture/Seminar, Moraga, CA, St. Mary’s College, Invited, 2007-2008   
"Catholicism and Science: the Case of Evolution", Talk/Oral Presentation, Newport Beach, CA, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel , Invited, 2007-2008   
"Faithful Citizenship: Separation of Church and State", Talk/Oral Presentation, Los Angeles, Alumni Organization of Loyola Law School,, Invited, 2007-2008   
"Leadership in Catholic High Schools", National Conference , Lecture/Seminar, San Antonio, TX, National Catholic Education Association, Invited, 2007-2008   
"Pro-Choice Catholic Politicians and the Election", Talk/Oral Presentation, South Pasadena, CA, Holy Family Parish, Invited, 2007-2008   
"Silence and Speech", Fundraiser Luncheon for the Cloistered Carmelite Sisters,, Talk/Oral Presentation, San Gabriel Country Club , Invited, 2007-2008   
"Two Different Worlds: Academics and Campus Ministries", National conference of Catholic Campus Ministries , Lecture/Seminar, Vero Beach, FL, Invited, 2007-2008   
"Passing on the Faith to the Next Generation", Lecture/Seminar, Miami, FL, Catholic Theological Society of America, Invited, 07/07/2008  
"True Wealth of Nations", Organizer, Paper, Davidson Conference Center, Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies, Invited, 06/18/2008-06/22/2008  
"Bishops and Politics", National convention of the Catholic Theological Society of America, Chaired one session, Los Angeles, CA, Invited, 2006-2007   
"Day-long workshop for faculty & staff", Workshop, St. Monica's High School, 2006-2007   
"Difficulties in Inter-Religious Dialogue.", Talk/Oral Presentation, University of Michigan,, 2006-2007   
"Director of Fordham University’s Center on Religion and Culture, ", discuss in a small seminar Christian Smith’s Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of Am, 2006-2007   
"Discipleship: New Possibilities", Talk/Oral Presentation, South Pasadena, CA, Holy Family Parish , 2006-2007   
"Failing America’s Faithful ", A dialogue with Kathleen Kennedy Townsend on the topic of her book, Failing America’s Faithful (Warn, Talk/Oral Presentation, Santa Monica, St. Monica's Church, 2006-2007   
"Inter-Religious Dialogue", Panel Discussion, Omar Ibn al Khattab Mosque. , 2006-2007   
"Learned Ignorance in the Abrahamic Religions", Led a three day symposium, Jerusalem, Israel, 2006-2007   
"Presented a day long workshop to the faculty and staff", Workshop, West Hills, CA, Chaminade High School , 2006-2007   
"Social Sciences and the Human Person," ", Notre Dame, Talk/Oral Presentation, Sea Island, Georgia, Templeton Foundation, 2006-2007   
"The Importance of Religious Distinctive Research at a Catholic University", Talk/Oral Presentation, Chicago, IL, DePaul University , 2006-2007   
"The Roles of the Faculty at a Catholic University", Boston College’s Institute for Leadership in Catholic Higher Education, Talk/Oral Presentation, Invited, 2006-2007   
"The Vocation Crises in the Catholic Church", the Serra Club International., Talk/Oral Presentation, Los Angeles, 2006-2007   
"Trinity Sunday", National Convention of the College Theology Society, Preach Sermon, University of Dayton , 2006-2007   
"USC panel on religious diversity", USC panel on religious diversity, Talk/Oral Presentation, 2006-2007   
"Vision and Voices Program", At the request of the Provost’s office, led a discussion for 150 USC students with Prof. Thomas Ly, Talk/Oral Presentation, Mark Taper Theatre, 2006-2007   
"on "The Role of Religion and Peacemaking." ", Talk/Oral Presentation, Leo Baeck Temple, Invited by Lisa Bitel, USC professor of history., 2006-2007   
 

Publications

Book

Heft, S.M., J. L. (2011). Catholic High Schools: Facing the New Realities. Qxford University Press.
Heft, S.M., J. L. (2011). Par-dela la violence :Le dialogue des religions est-il une utopia?. Parole et Silence, Paris.
Heft, S.M., J. L. (2011). Catholicism and Interreligious Dialogue. (James L. Heft, S.M., Ed.). Oxford University Press.
Heft, J. L. (2006). Passing on the Faith: Transforming Traditions for the Next Generation of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. New York: Fordham University Press.
 

Book Chapter

James L. Heft, S.M., Reuven Firestone, Omid Safi (Ed.). (2011). "Humble Infallibilty". Learned Ignorance: Intellectual Humility Among Jew pp. 89-106. Oxford University Press.
Heft, S.M., J. L. (2011). "John Paul II and the ‘Just War’ Doctrine: ‘Making Peace through Justice and Forgiveness, Not War". In Religion, Identity, and Global Governance pp. 203-219. University of Toronto Press.
Heft, J. L. (2005). US Catholics and the Presidential Election: Abortion and Proportionate Reasons”. (Vol. 259-275). New Blackfriars: A Review 86.
Heft, J. L. (2005). Believing Scholars:. (Vol. 196). pp. p. New York: Ten Catholic Intellectuals/Fordham University Press.
Heft, J. L. (2005). “Presidents and Principals: What Should Be Their Major Focus?”. (Vol. 13-26). Development of the President/Principal Model in Catholic High Schools.
 

Encyclopedia Article

Heft, S.M., J. L. (2010). "Catholic Higher Education in the United States". 427-430. Vol. 1. New Catholic Encyclopedia Supplement 2010,.
 

Journal Article

Heft, S.M., J. L. (2010). "Religion and Violence: Three Interpretations". Origins. Vol. 40 (26), pp. 409-415.
Heft, S.M., J. L. (2010). "Distinctively Catholic: Keeping the Faith in Higher Education". Commonweal.
Heft, J. L. (2008). The New Atheism: Really?. Origins. Vol. Vol. 38 (No.21), pp. 332-339.
Heft, J. L. (2008). Evolution and Catholicism: A Few Modest Proposals. Horizons. Vol. 35 (2 Fall 2008), pp. 203-227.
Heft, J. L. Rousing the Sleeping Giant: Notre Dame’s Commitment to Catholic Schools. Catholic Education: A Journal of Inquiry and Practice.
Heft, J. L. (2007). Newman’s Vision of a University: Then and Now. Catholic Education: A Journal of Inquiry and Practice. Vol. 10:3, pp. 357-375.
Heft, J. L. (2006). Religion and Politics: The Catholic Contribution. University of Dayton Law Review. Vol. Vo. 32:1 (2006), pp. 29-46.
Heft, J. L. (2006). “Catholic Universities as Open Circles: Academic Freedom.”. No Journal Defined. Vol. 35, pp. 40 660-663.
Heft, J. L. (2005). “Wisdom for Presidents”. No Journal Defined. Vol. 24, pp. 2 49-51.
Heft, J. L. “Catholic Education and Social Justice.”. No Journal Defined. Vol. 10, pp. 1 6-23.
 

Magazine/Trade Publication

Heft, S.M., J. L. The Catechist.
Heft, S.M., J. L. Cross Current, United Nations. pp. 328-331.
 

Newspaper

Heft, S.M., J. L. (2010). "Christmas and Easter Christians", OpEd. Washington Post.
Heft, S.M., J. L. (2010). "From ‘Nones’ to ‘Somethings'," OpEd. Tidings.
 

Honors and Awards

USC Endowed Professorship, Alton M. Brooks Professor of Religion, 8/16/2006-5/15/2013  
Theodore M. Hesburgh Award in Washington DC from the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities for distinguished and long contribution to Catholic higher education in the United States., 1/29/2011  
Nominated by Gamma Sigma Alpha National Greek Honor Society at USC for Professor of the Year 2007 , 2007-2008   
 

Service to the University

Committees

Member, Serve on Rabbi Susan Laemmle's USC Religious Partners' Group. , 2007-2008   
 

Media, Alumni, and Community Relations

Invited President of the National Endowment of the Arts, Dana Gioia, to speak on "Catholicism and Literature" Video presentation is on our website: www.ifacs.com., 2008-2009   
 

Other Service to the University

Organized Annual Leccture Series on "Film and Religion"., 2008-2009   
We have also launched our first annual USC lecture series, "Catholicism and Other World Religions," which will result in a book published in 2008. Next year, we will organize a year long series on "Film and Religion." , 2007-2008   
 

Service to the Profession

Conferences Organized

Organized and Chaired, "Caritas in veritate and how it applies to the United States." , Vatican, The papers presented at the conference are being edited by Daniel Finn, Institute Board member and will be published in 2012 by Oxford University Press. , 10/15/2011  
Organizer, What Happened at Vatican II?, Davidson Conference Center - USC, The 2-day symposium focused on Historian John O'Malley's book, "What Happened at Vatican II?", 2008-2009   
Organizer, True Wealth of Nations, USC Davidson Conference Center, As president of the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies I helped organize and fully supported an international conference on the "True Wealth of Nations." The papers presented at the conference are being edited submitted to Oxford University Press. , 06/18/2008-06/22/2008  
 

Other Service to the Profession

As President of the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies, I have organized for each academic year a lecture series on campus. For the year, 2007-2008, the theme of the lecture series was Catholicism and other World Religions. For the academic year, 2008-2009, the theme is Religion and Film. Both lecture series, held on campus, bring eminent scholars to campus to interact with USC’s scholars and community. I am editing the lectures given at both series so that they may be published as books. I have included USC faculty as respondents to these lectures., 2008-2009   
I invited the President of the National Endowment for the Arts, Dana Gioia, to speak on campus December 3rd on "Christianity and Literature." I have extended invitations to USC’s English Faculty for the lecture and join Mr. Gioia for dinner afterwards, 2008-2009   
 
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