Benedictine’s first Fall Symposium to feature “the Church in an Algorithmic Age”
Benedictine College is preparing for its annual Symposium on Transforming Culture, which is transitioning from a spring event to a fall event for the first time. The first fall date is set for September 4-5, 2026, on the Benedictine campus in Atchison, Kansas. The event features top Catholic speakers as well as dozens of additional papers and presentations from professors, field professionals, students, and clergy. Registration for the Symposium, along with additional information, is now available online.
“This is a time of fellowship, reflection and dialogue concerning topics integral to the Catholic Faith and its transformative role in society, culture and business,” said Dr. Matthew Muller, assistant professor of Theology at Benedictine College and the director of the Symposium.
The Symposium features the theme “The Church in an Algorithmic Age” and will focus on the many issues currently facing Catholics dealing with social media and artificial intelligence issues.
“Pope Leo XIV has called upon Catholics and all people of good will to take seriously the challenges and opportunities posed by technology and artificial intelligence,” Muller said. “This conference explores how Catholics can continue to live and profess the faith in a world increasingly driven by algorithmic forces. It calls upon scholars and field professionals from any discipline to reflect, criticize, and propose ways of thinking and acting in the midst of this transformational time in human history.”
The two-day symposium includes three general keynote speakers:
- Dr. Paul Scherz – Professor of Theology, University of Notre Dame
- Dr. Kristin Collier, MD, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan
- Matthew Sanders – CEO – Magisterium AI, Longbeard
General sessions include featured presentations by:
- Erich Kerekes – Chief Technology Officer & Co-Founder of Hallow, Inc.
- Nathan Crankfield – Manager, Hallow, Inc.
- Dr. James Madden – Professor of Philosophy, Benedictine College
- Bo Bonner – author, educator, broadcaster
Presenters at the colloquium sessions are from a variety of different institutions, organizations, and ministries. Previous symposia have featured speakers from Benedictine College, Ave Maria University, the Augustine Institute, Saint Louis University, University of Notre Dame, University of Dallas, Marquette University, Justice for All, University of Kansas, Archdiocese of Omaha, the Center for Advanced Leadership and Catechetics, the Diocese of El Paso, and the USCCB Department of Justice, Peace, and Human Development, among many others.
“Come spend these two days together to learn from others and discover how to integrate Catholic thought and field experience to be more effective in the New Evangelization,” Muller said.
Founded in 1858, Benedictine College is a Catholic, Benedictine, residential, liberal arts college located on the bluffs above the Missouri River in Atchison, Kansas. The school is honored to have received a top 10 ranking by U.S. News & World Report, to be ranked in the nation’s 10 most-recommended colleges by The Wall Street Journal and named one of the top Catholic colleges in the nation by the Newman Guide. It prides itself on outstanding academics, extraordinary faith life, strong athletic programs, and an exceptional sense of community and belonging. Benedictine College is dedicated to Transforming Culture in America through its mission to educate men and women within a community of faith and scholarship.
