Human encounter in our digital world

When the members of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference wrote the Social Justice Statement 2019 – 2020, Making it Real: Genuine human encounter in our digital world, they could have not predicted how relevant such a statement would be in light of 2020.

COVID- 19 has had an astronomical effect on everyday life and the thought of not being connected in some way, shape or form has been difficult for the human race to comes to grips with.

On Saturday August 29 from 2pm to 4.30pm we invite you to hear from Professor Joseph Ciarrochi, Bishop William Wright and to view artists interpretation of the statement and COVID in their lives.

Joseph Ciarrochi is professor at the Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University. He has published over 140 scientific journal articles and many books, including  the bestselling, Get out of your mind and into your life teens, and the widely acclaimed, Weight Escape, and Mindfulness, Acceptance, and Positive Psychology: the Seven Foundations of Well-Being. His newest book will be released September 2020. It is called Your Life, Your Way: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Skills to Help Teens Manage Emotions and Build Resilience. Professor Ciarrochi has been honoured with over four million dollars in research funding. His work has been discussed on T.V., and in magazines, newspaper articles, and radio.

In his presentation, Keeping up with the Kardashians: Character and virtue in the age of virtual living; he will explore how people now spend much of their life interacting in the online world of gaming, facebook, twitter, youtube, Whatsapp, Tiktok, instagram, etc. This virtual reality poses many promises and threats.  It promises leaps forward in learning, social connection, and innovation. Yet it threatens us with addiction, reduced distress tolerance, shallow values, and selective exposure to narrow political and social viewpoints. He believes those who educate, teachers, pastors, parents, influencers, need to take deliberate action to counter the threats. His talk will present the problem and some potential evidence-based solutions from the field of psychological science. 

Bishop William Wright will reflect on the 2019-2020 Social Justice Statement, Making it Real: Genuine Human Encounter in our digital world in light of COVID-19.

Artwork reflecting the Social Justice Statement and COVID- 19 will also be presented.

To register for this free online event click following the link:

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