Engaging Your Faith (EYF) is a series of short, online presentations that invite participants to reflect on what it means to be people of faith in the contemporary world. Experienced lecturers from Catholic Theological College present on a variety of topics such as Religion and Ethics, Philosophy, Gospel of Luke, Interculturality, Meditation, Science and Religion, Incarnation, AI, Art and Theology.
Accreditation
These sessions are eligible for maintaining accreditation in Catholic schools in all Victorian and Queensland dioceses. In other dioceses, teachers should check with their education office.
Cost
- $25 per session: General audience
- $40 per session: Teachers applying for Catholic school accreditation
Book online
All sessions are booked directly through Try Booking.
9 sessions running in May 2024
Session Details | Presenter |
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Tuesday 14 May: 7pm – 8.30pm Religion and Ethics: Exploring Some Connections Exploring some connections between religious belief and ethics, this session considers the implications of these for both personal and societal ethical decision making in the Australian context. Presented by Dr Frances Baker RSM Bookings close: Friday 10 May at 5pm. | |
Wednesday 15 May: 7pm – 8pm Incarnating Transcendence in Our Secular Age This session we will consider Charles Taylor, a philosopher whose cultural analysis helps those of us who want to understand why belief in God is more difficult today than it was 500 years ago. His analysis can be used as a foundation for breaking open the Gospel in a school setting or in the life of the wider Church. Presented by Dr Paul Sharkey Bookings close: Monday 13 May at 5pm. | |
Monday 20 May: 7pm – 8.30pm The Women in the Gospel of Luke The Gospel according to Luke actively engages women in the narrative, making them visible and often pairing male and female together as examples. This session explores Luke’s inclusion of women in the life and ministry of Jesus, points to his further inclusion of women in Acts, and investigates the implications for today. Presented by Dr Rosemary Canavan Bookings close: Friday 17 May at 5pm. | |
Tuesday 21 May: 7.30pm – 8.30pm Interculturality: Reflections for the Mission of a Parish Today This session will introduce participants to the topic of interculturality—the mutual exchange of cultural ideas. We will discuss how it relates to various church contexts and the challenge of mission. Presented by Rev. Dr Jake Mudge Bookings close: Friday 17 May at 5pm. | |
Wednesday 22 May: 4pm – 5pm Meditation in the Classroom Dr Christopher Morris This session has been cancelled. | |
Wednesday 22 May: 7pm – 8.30pm Can a Scientist Believe in God? Many people say (or fear?) that God and science don’t mix. “I believe in science …” is often a reason people give for not taking Christianity seriously. In faith-based schools, 60% of secondary students say Christianity and science conflict. This session is an introduction to the “conflict myth” and will offer some clues about how to understand the science–faith relationship as a harmonious one. Presented by Rev. Dr Christopher Mulherin Bookings close: Monday 20 May at 5pm. | |
Tuesday 28 May: 7.30pm – 9pm Anselm’s Cur Deus Homo St Anselm’s Cur Deus Homo (“Why God became human”) is justifiably famous, but rarely read and often misunderstood. It is not about an angry God who needs someone to punish. Rather, directed against non-believers who refuse to worship a crucified God, it talks of the cross as a place of wisdom, freedom, and honour. Presented by Rev. Dr Joseph Vnuk OP Bookings close: Friday 24 May at 5pm. | |
Wednesday 29 May: 7pm – 8.30pm An Introduction to AI and Transhumanism … for Christians “Young people today can expect to live forever, but AI will run the world.” At least that is the view of some techno-optimists. This session is a brief introduction to artificial intelligence (including large language models like ChatGPT) and transhumanism, in which we will reflect on how Christians might think about future developments. Presented by Rev. Dr Christopher Mulherin Bookings close: Monday 27 May at 5pm. | |
Thursday 30 May: 6pm – 7.30pm Beauty and the Word of God: Experience and Reverence An introduction to beauty as an approach to the mystery of God. We will look at how the experience of beauty helps us understand some theological concepts; and also how, therefore, the Church has understood the place of art. Presented by Rev. Dr Jerome Santamaria Bookings close: Tuesday 28 May at 5pm. |