How to rescue Australian culture from secular humanism and replace it with authentic humanism was the topic of discussion at the ninth annual Dawson Centre Colloquium. Source: Hobart Archdiocese.
The event was held in North Hobart earlier this month.
In keeping with the Dawson Centre’s ethos, there was a strong focus on education and the need to form young people with a humanism derived from Christianity.
Author and co-founder of Campion College, Karl Schmude, spoke about British Catholic historian Christopher Dawson (1889-1970) and his vision for a Christian humanism.
Drawing on the thought of Dawsons, Mr Schmude said the current pervasive secular humanism “shuns the transcendental” and instead embraces “transcendental substitutes”, as evidenced by “wokeism”.
Mr Schmude concurred with Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky, arguing that ultimately, beauty would save the world.
Dr Bella d’Abrera, director of the Foundations of Western Civilisation Program at the Institute of Public Affairs, spoke about the trend sweeping the Western world of tearing down statues, describing it as a “cultural revolution” carried out by “a very powerful minority”.
Melbourne secondary school teacher Lucas McLennan proposed ways of incorporating Western Civilisation perspectives into the national curriculum, while fellow teacher Natalie Kennedy held the audience captive with her exploration of how the beauty of poetry can restore a sense of awe and wonder in students.
Executive Director of the Thomas More Centre, Anna Krohn, spoke about the classical tradition of paideia – a system of education or formation – and Dawson’s notion that such an education needed to be informed by Christianity.
Sydney-based lawyer and bioethicist Dr Anna Walsh presented results from her doctoral research showing that there was insufficient education on the importance of freedom of conscience for doctors, particularly in relation to abortion, a matter of great importance for Catholic health institutions.
The closing address was given by Professor Stephen Schwartz, author of 13 books and over 120 scientific articles, who said, “A society that preserves its culture, preserves its faith”.
FULL STORY
Truth, Beauty and Goodness are key to authentic humanism (By Catherine Sheehan, Hobart Archdiocese)
