In "The Great Transformation," author and religious scholar Karen Armstrong writes a book about how a variety of religious traditions began and how they could possibly answer problems in our society today. In this interview, Armstrong talks about her appointment to a United Nations initiative called The Alliance of Civilizations, a diverse group of people from around the world who gather to help improve harmony between people across all cultures and religions. This discussion with the author took place on a 2006 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, California.