Campion College to Host Symposium on Early Christianity

Campion College is delighted to announce an upcoming symposium, "Shepherd at the Crossroads: Converging Traditions in Early Christianity," to be held on September 27-28, 2024, at the college campus in Toongabbie, Western Sydney. This event is open to academics, tertiary students, and the wider community, offering a unique opportunity to delve into the multicultural and multi-traditional character of Early Christianity and its enduring influence.

The keynote address from Dr Vassilis Adrahtas (UNSW, UWS) will explore the topic “Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite and the Neoplatonists: One Wonders Who is the Christian and Who is the Pagan.”

Additional speakers include Dr Chris Baghos (CSU), Dr Danijel Džino (MQ), Dr Kevin Wagner (UNDA), Dr Lydia Gore-Jones (SCD), Dr Lyn Kidson (MQ), Dr Mario Baghos (UNDA), Mr Gabriel Jower (MQ) and Mr Mark Matic (CCA, MQ).

In anticipation of the upcoming symposium, Dr. Stephen McInerney, Dean of Studies at Campion College, shared his excitement, stating: " This event promises to be a remarkable gathering of scholars, students, and community members, all eager to explore the rich, multicultural heritage of early Christianity. We hope that attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how diverse traditions have shaped and enriched the Christian faith. I warmly invite everyone with an interest in early Christianity to join us for what will undoubtedly be an enlightening event.”

Registration for the symposium is now open. Two-day tickets are available for $120 per person while a one-day ticket will cost $70 per person. Concession pricing is available for current tertiary students.

To purchase tickets and learn more about the event, visit www.campion.edu.au/event/early-christianity-symposium

Event enquiries should be directed to Mark Matic, Symposium Convenor, via m.matic@campion.edu.au.

This symposium is being offered through the college’s Centre for the Study of the Western Tradition (CSWT). The CSWT seeks to encourage critical reflection and research on the history, literature, languages, philosophy and theology that characterise Western civilisation and culture, in order to raise the profile of these vital disciplines in Australian tertiary education. These integrated humane studies evolved from the classical and medieval Liberal Arts, including European, Græco-Roman, Byzantine and Near Eastern traditions. They remain an essential key to a rich understanding of Australian culture and society, including our ideals of democracy, our Enlightenment heritage, our Christian-oriented past, our multi-cultural identity, and the classical underpinnings of our education.