The University of Pennsylvania, like many other American universities, is a "secular temple" that promotes every view of life except a religious one, according to Los Angeles radio talk-show host Dennis Prager. In a speech to more than 200 people in Meyerson Hall last night, Prager, a noted talk-show host, author and lecturer, focused on secularism and the problems it causes in everyday life. He explained that he has become religious "because I have seen the consequences of secularism." The event, "Being Jewish in 21st Century America: What Role Should Judaism Play in Our Decision Making?" was co-sponsored by the Jewish Renaissance Project and Connaissance. Prager, who described himself as "deeply religious? a committed Jew," complained that in the secular world there is a lack of objective morality, and said that "feelings have supplanted standards." The author of Why the Jews? and co-author of The Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism also described the "holy" and "ethical" pillars of Judaism and their importance in secular life. He defined the "holy" aspect as people's relationship to God -- or, as he said, "the movement from the animal-like to the God-like." The "ethical" pillar refers to people's relationships with other humans. After referring to the Bible, Prager said that society has "lost the sense of holy." "The rubber will hit the road if you take values seriously," Prager said in stressing the benefits of leading a religious life. Prager referred to his most recent book, 1998's Happiness Is a Serious Problem, saying that he discovered the key to happiness -- gratitude. "The more gratitude you have, the happier you'll be," he said, adding that Judaism "constantly inculcates gratitude." Prager concluded by saying that if people take religion seriously, it will change their lives and make them "holier." But he also warned that religious people will be in conflict with prevailing intellectual ideas, a point he said was "inevitable." Prager said he broadcasts his radio show in the hope of changing "some lives for the better." The show, on daily from noon to 3 p.m., has been aired on L.A.'s KABC radio since 1982. It focuses on morality and a religiously-based approach to daily life. In addition to the radio program, Prager has written several books, journals and articles, and has co-produced three videos. According to College junior Sami Weisberg, Prager's goal is to "make college students living in a secular world think about religious issues." She said she thought that the fact that so many people stayed after the speech to talk about religion with Prager is "amazing." College sophomore and Valencia, Calif., resident Scott Dash described Prager as "very controversial and popular in Los Angeles," and said he is "articulate in his stance." And College senior Julie Marx said she thought the speech was good for college students, and that it is "interesting to put Judaism into everyday life."
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