About the Christopher Dawson Centre
Following his installation as Archbishop of Hobart on 17 September 2013 the Most Reverend Julian Porteous signaled a determination to advance the Catholic Intellectual Tradition within the Archdiocese and beyond. He took steps to establish the Christopher Dawson Centre for Cultural Studies, in honour of a man who is considered to have been the greatest English-speaking Catholic historian of the twentieth century.
PURPOSE AND GOALS
The Christopher Dawson Centre for Cultural Studies (CDC) is an independent, not-for-profit think tank, dedicated to promoting awareness of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition and Cultural Patrimony as essential components of human civilisation.
The CDC’s focus is cultural and historical. Its supporters represent a wide range of opinion but have in common a desire to preserve and reinforce the intellectual traditions and practices of the West.
Since its establishment in 2013, the Centre has taken a lead in cultural and political debate in Tasmania. It supports the rule of law, and representative democracy. Specific research areas include Christianity in Australia, the defence and promotion of Christian culture as a central component of education in Australia, and Democracy and Freedom in the West.
The CDC publishes a wide variety of research papers and supporting opinion pieces, runs short courses, and hosts an annual Colloquium on a subject of high topical significance.
The Christopher Dawson Centre for Cultural Studies will seek to encourage critical reflection and research on the history, literature, philosophy and theology that characterize Christian civilization and culture, in order to raise the profile of these vital disciplines in intellectual life and to reclaim the high ground. These humane studies remain an essential key to the full and mature understanding of the underlying currents of Australian life. In this ‘Asian Century’ it is more important than ever to maintain our sense of proportion and hold fast to that synthesis of Faith and Reason that has been gifted to the world by the Christian Tradition.
Who was Christopher Dawson?
Christopher Dawson (1889-1970) was brought up an Anglican, converted to Roman Catholicism in 1914, and is principally known for his powerful defence of the vital role of the Christian religion as a major strand of Western culture. The aim of the Centre named after him is ‘to promote awareness of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition and Cultural Heritage as essential components of human civilization’.
About our logo
The Centre’s device is a candle, signifying Reason, set within the Cross, the symbol of Faith. The open book contains the motto of Oxford University – Dawson’s alma mater – Deus Illuminatio mea, the opening words of Psalm 27 (‘the Lord is my Light and my Salvation; whom then should I fear?’)
Our Team
DIRECTOR: Alexander Sidhu
Head Office: Melbourne, Victoria
Email: director@dawsoncentre.org
GOVERNING BOARD MEMBERS:
President His Grace Archbishop Julian Porteous
Vice President Dr David Daintree
Treasurer Mr Ron Ward