The Seminary of the 3rd Age theme for 2022 is Faith and Religion relating to the present age. In the March series of seminars, we examine The Relationship between Religion and Culture. Olga Gostin will present tonight on the topic How culture shapes identity.

There is no doubt that the subject of culture and identity is a hot topic in Australia today. Multiculturalism challenges Australians to embrace the diversity of the nation and rethink how a cherished past is valued. First Nations’ people have a voice which begs to be heard and their ancient cultures continue to forge Indigenous identities. To reflect, consider and understand how culture shapes us all will broaden our minds and prepare us to reimagine our national identity, our role as Christians while still honouring cultural diversity. We are very privileged that Olga as a renowned social anthropologist, will share her research and personal experience to launch the 2022 program.

Dr Olga Gostin is of mixed Belgian-Russian parentage, but grew up in South Africa during the apartheid regime, graduating there in social anthropology at the University of the Witwatersrand. After her postgraduate scholarship to study anthropology at the ANU, Canberra she went to Papua New Guinea and lived among the Kuni people studying the effects of resettlement, cash cropping and their conversion to Catholicism. In 1968 she had post-doctoral exchange at Moscow State University and honed her interest in syncretism and cultural change. In 1973 Olga became a founding member of the Aboriginal Task Force, Australia’s first specifically designated tertiary program for Indigenous Australians continuing with the program in its many guises for the next 40 years. Olga maintains a passionate interest in environmental issues, the dynamics of culture change, and matters of social justice - particularly as they apply to Indigenous Australians.