2024 Politics and Society Network

The aim of this presentation is to look at the question of the ethics of war in the light of Scripture and draw the basic outline of classical just war theory as it has come down to us from Augustine through Aquinas and Grotius. Can we find a meaningful middle-ground from a Christian perspective between two extremes of militarism and pacifism?

For about twenty years Espen Ottosen has been participating regularly in debates in the secular/general media in Norway. In a country like Norway, which is very secularized, standing up for a Christian perspective on same-sex marriage, biotechnical issues, and questions related to sex and gender, is a big challenge. In this session, Ottosen will share the lessons he’s learned on how to communicate to people in the public square with little knowledge and/or many prejudices about classical Christian belief.

There is a huge push for abortion at the European level – often in the name of love, dignity, freedom, and empowerment. Christians cannot turn a blind eye to this situation. How do we make a difference? What does it mean to care for the most vulnerable in a society where the right to life – a fundamental human right – is threatened? What does it mean to care for both mothers and unborn babies and to show that there is hope and there is a better story to tell? What are some best practices that we can employ?

In a world that rewards convictions expressed with little civility and civility without deep convictions, how do Christians demonstrate an authentic Christ-likeness? Being faithful in the public square means practicing “convicted civility” – having convictions and compassion even when those around us don't. We will consider what it looks like and how we can speak with grace and truth in politics.

Mathematicians and computer scientists have developed and studied Artificial Intelligence (AI) for many decades. In 1950 Alan Turing, considered one of the fathers of computer science, proposed the "imitation game" (now called the Turing Test) to assess a computer's ability to interact in a fashion indistinguishable from a human. We discuss how AI systems work (without formulae or buzzwords), what we might expect in the coming decade, and how AI systems are playing an increasingly central role in culture and society.

Whether your country is currently at war or peace, the “information war” is something we are all experiencing. How did social media and the internet become key battlefields? What does this mean for us as individuals and for our societies, and what can we do about it?

Drawing on her experience of working for many years in appointed and elected leadership roles in politics and the public square, Jane will share her observations on hard-won lessons learned along the way.

There is no area in the realm of politics and society into which our Christian faith does not speak. Across this Network, participants have grappled with considerable issues of our day and sought to understand how we as Christians can best stand for the Lord and help His Church shine as a light for hope and truth. This session will bring together the key points that have emerged across the four days with opportunities for participants to express their take-home points.