Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has warned of the dangers of social media in a speech to a national Christian conference last week.
Speaking at the Australian Christian Churches conference on the Gold Coast, Morrison spoke of the “corrosive” nature of what he described as “identity politics” – in which people tend to think of themselves as simply part of a group rather than as individuals – and how that can lead to the misuse of social media.
Screenshot of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaking at the conference of the Australian Christian Churches.
“Yeah, sure, social media has its virtues and its values and enables us to connect with people in ways we’ve never had before…” he said. “But those weapons can also be used by the evil one and we need to call that out.”
In a video of the speech, which was uploaded to YouTube by the Rationalist Society of Australia, Morrison also spoke briefly of how he felt called to do God’s work and looked for signs from God while on the campaign trail in 2019. He also mentioned how he had prayed for people while moving around the country.
“I’ve been in evacuation centres when people thought I was just giving someone a hug and I was praying,” he said. “And putting my hands on people in various places, laying hands on them and praying in various situations…God has, I believe, been using us, in those moments, to be able to provide some relief and comfort and just some reassurance…”
Morrison – who Australia’s first Pentecostal Prime Minister and a member of Horizon Church in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire – also expressed his thanks for the support he and his wife Jenny receive from Christians around the nation.
“We are very grateful for the amazing prayers and support that we get from Christians around the country – it is an avalanche….People send me verses, they tell me their stories, they share things with me, they share things with Jenny, it’s a privilege, it is an absolute privilege.”
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s office reportedly said Morrison “was invited to address Tuesday night’s event the same as he attends many other stakeholder events, including for other religious groups such as the Copts, Maronites, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim.”
“The usual transport and security protocols were followed as they are for any event the prime minister attends.”
