The maîtres à penser of the MAGA movement, such as Peter Thiel and J.D. Vance, make use of some great Christian authors to support their understanding of Christianity. In reality, they mangle, bend, and ultimately utterly misunderstand their sources. We saw a blatant example of this when the late pope Francis issued a public rebuke of J.D. Vance’s interpretation of the meaning of Christian love based on St. Augustine. (See DM April 28.)
Do they perform such misinterpretation willingly or because of a lack of sufficient intellectual abilities? I can’t answer this question, although I swing toward the second option.
One author that is misused by these presumed intellectuals is the late René Girard (1923-2015), a world-renowned literary critic turned philosopher. In particular, they quote Girard in order to assert the absolute pre-eminence of Christianity over other world religions.
Girard did in fact argue that the Christian texts collected in the New Testament uncovered for the first time in history the violent dynamics on which human society is based, thus making it possible for humans to see the truth of their horrible behavior so they can apply themselves to change it.
Girard’s basic intuition about mimetic desire, which he derived originally from his analysis of narratives such as novels, has proven very strong and generative. His descriptions of how a “mimetic crisis” produces violence are masterpieces in their own right.
In essence, Girard shows that our desires usually are not authentic, as we desire what other people already desire. For this reason, envy and jealousy are the real matter of which our relationships are made. Rivalries for the same object of desire are always at risk of escalating to violent attacks, as in fact they do, both at the interpersonal level (homicides) and between societies (wars).
Far from being a solution to the problem, religions are part of the same mechanism insofar as they are based on the sacrifice of a scapegoat — which originally was an animal, but then developed historically into a human being or a group of human beings, as we see also in collective lynchings, pogroms, and the like.
Violence is contagious and can grow paroxismally. When a society is beset by strong currents of violence, it looks automatically and unconsciously for a victim, a scapegoat, on which all the murderous violence can be poured. After the sacrifice of the scapegoat, society is at peace for a short while, even though the mechanism of violence is still fully in place, just waiting to be rekindled.
From this brief summary, everybody can see that Girard’s thought is full of interesting ideas, as well as disturbing elements. If you had a reaction of this kind, while reading this DM, you are indeed in good company.
Christianity comes into play in Girardian thought because it is a religion which celebrates symbolically the martyrdom of a human scapegoat, Jesus, as its main worship action. It can therefore be seen as a strong supporter of the social mechanism of scapegoating, which is simply repeated and thus reinforced at each Mass. Jesus is a “willing victim” who models for others the acceptance of being victimized.
However, says Girard, Christianity can also be the solution to the human problem, because (a) its sacrifice is bloodless/symbolic, and (b) the narrative of the sacrifice of Jesus makes clear that he was completely innocent. Thus, Christianity potentially reveals to human society that all scapegoats are innocent, and that the mechanism of scapegoating violence must be stopped.
One can be in favor or against the elaborate understanding of Christianity offered by Girard, but it is mind boggling that Thiel, Vance, and their friends fail to see that what they suggest and enact every day through the policies of the Trump administration, is completely opposite to what Girard suggested.
Their policies basically consist of scapegoating the immigrants, the progressives, the transgenders, etc., etc. The mechanism of victimization of individuals and groups, which is what Girard believed was unmasked by the Christian narrative, is what they continually support and enforce.
Can’t they see? Are they blind?
As to the “superiority” of Christianity, which can be derived from Girard’s thought — even though in a very qualified way — I suggest it can be reframed through Matthew Fox’s understanding of dialectic, the both/and dynamic which grounds his thinking and all healthy spirituality. It may be the case that Girard uncovered a fundamental dynamic of our species, that of violence and scapegoating, and that the Christian texts (not the actual behavior of most Christians) do offer a way out of it.
However, other spiritual traditions have applied themselves to other aspects of the human life that are no less important or fundamental. Rather than being identical, it is only by means of a mosaic of the best among the spiritual intuitions and the scientific hypotheses of humanity that we can find a way out of the terrible mess in which we find ourselves at this time in the history of our species.
For the dialectic, see Matthew Fox, A Spirituality Named Compassion, pp. 82-87
See also Fox, Trump and the MAGA Movement as Anti-Christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election
And Fox, Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul and Society
And
Banner image: “STOP WAR.” The contributor says, “I’m from Russia. I am totally ashamed of the actions of our government in relation to Ukraine. This disgusting war must be stopped..” By Ivan, on Flickr
Queries for Contemplation
Which intuitions by Girard can find a place in your understanding of violence, humanity, and Christianity? And which do you reject, and why?
Related Readings by Matthew Fox
A Spirituality Named Compassion: Uniting Mystical Awareness with Social Justice
In A Spirituality Named Compassion, Matthew Fox delivers a profound exploration of the meaning and practice of compassion. Establishing a spirituality for the future that promises personal, social, and global healing, Fox marries mysticism with social justice, leading the way toward a gentler and more ecological spirituality and an acceptance of our interdependence which is the substratum of all compassionate activity.
“Well worth our deepest consideration…Puts compassion into its proper focus after centuries of neglect.” –The Catholic Register
Trump & The MAGA Movement as Anti-Christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election
Matthew Fox tells us that he had always shied away from using the term “Anti-Christ” because it was so often used to spread control and fear. However, given today’s rise of authoritarianism and forces of democracide, ecocide, and christofascism, he turns the tables in this book employing the archetype for the cause of justice, democracy, and a renewed Earth and humanity.
From the Foreword: If there was ever a time, a moment, for examining the archetype of the Antichrist, it is now…Read this book with an open mind. Good and evil are real forces in our world. ~~ Caroline Myss, author of Anatomy of the Spirit and Conversations with the Divine.
For immediate access to Trump & The MAGA Movement as Anti-Christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election, order the e-book with 10 full-color prints from Amazon HERE.
To get a print-on-demand paperback copy with black & white images, order from Amazon HERE or IUniverse HERE.
To receive a limited-edition, full-color paperback copy, order from MatthewFox.org HERE.
Order the audiobook HERE for immediate download.
Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul and Society
Visionary theologian and best-selling author Matthew Fox offers a new theology of evil that fundamentally changes the traditional perception of good and evil and points the way to a more enlightened treatment of ourselves, one another, and all of nature. In comparing the Eastern tradition of the 7 chakras to the Western tradition of the 7 capital sins, Fox allows us to think creatively about our capacity for personal and institutional evil and what we can do about them.
“A scholarly masterpiece embodying a better vision and depth of perception far beyond the grasp of any one single science. A breath-taking analysis.” — Diarmuid O’Murchu, author of Quantum Theology: Spiritual Implications of the New Physics
Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision for a New Generation
Authors Adam Bucko and Matthew Fox encourage us to use our talents in service of compassion and justice and to move beyond our broken systems–economic, political, educational, and religious–discovering a spirituality that not only helps us to get along, but also encourages us to reevaluate our traditions, transforming them and in the process building a more sacred and just world. Incorporating the words of young activist leaders culled from interviews and surveys, the book provides a framework that is deliberately interfaith and speaks to our profound yearning for a life with spiritual purpose and for a better world.
“Occupy Spirituality is a powerful, inspiring, and vital call to embodied awareness and enlightened actions.”
~~ Julia Butterfly Hill, environmental activist and author of The Legacy of Luna: The Story of a Tree, a Woman, and the Struggle to Save the Redwoods
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11 thoughts on “René Girard and Human Violence”
Thank you for today’s meditation. I work in the field of conflict transformation and I am a long-time student of Rene Girard. I am so disturbed by the way Mr. Thiel distorts Girard’s approach. I have found Girard’s work immensely helpful in conflict transformation and peace-making within human communities. I appreciate your work in differentiating the Silicon Valley distortions from the reality of Girard’s work.
Thank you for your post and reflections about the interpretation of Rene Girard’s writing. I have not read his work, nor am familiar with his philosophy.
In my opinion, the base of the actions of this government is greed and power and egotism which has created a hierarchy of creating a leader who will do anything to support his power including lying and destroying other people.
In many ways it is not unlike the institution of the Catholic Church which models this hierarchy and path of lying and destroying in service to their institution. Jesus did not live and teach in that manner. Of course, I am not speaking of all members of the church, but those leaders who covered up and supported abuse of children and cultures comes to mind. Many institutions need to be “cleaned” up. This model of certain people (mostly males) being more important and wanting power thrives today. Human animals forgetting the truth of the value of life and acting like animal packs to survive and promote themselves.
True Christians follow the real path of Jesus.
Probably Peter Thiel and J.D. Vance shouldn’t be commenting on Girard’s writings (if you are saying that they are doing so) because I don’t think they have the capacity to understand him. I probably don’t either. Their words appear to be an example of cherry-picking ideas (and misunderstanding them) from respected philosophers to support their own goals.
As for what I do pick up from this essay, I disagree that Jesus was innocent. Jesus was trying to overturn an imperial social order. That’s why the Romans, not the Jews killed him—though the Jews seem complicit. As I understand it, crucifixion was punishment for insurrection, not petty crimes like theft or “crimes” like calling himself the messiah. They didn’t care about Jewish beliefs. (The men on each side of Jesus on Golgotha were probably not thieves. Like him, they surely committed crimes that threatened the Roman Empire.) Here in the U.S. now, people are being arrested and held for holding signs and writing articles that call out the misdeeds of the current regime in Washington. Washington isn’t following the Constitution, the rule of law, or even human rights long accepted by the Western World. Empire can’t abide those who call out its evil. They have to turn themselves into pretzels to support what they are doing.
Yes, Michele, Jesus was not innocent in terms of the law, and I also think that he was executed as an insurrectionist, but he was innocent in a deeper sense, which is what (according to Girard) the whole Christian scriptures are about.
You are right, Gianluigi. Jesus was innocent in a deeper sense. 🙂
I am not familiar with Girard but I agree with the view that the traditional Christian theology of atonement prioritizes scapegoating. In my view that completely ignores what Jesus was really about and trying to model, namely how one treats others. When I encountered Matthew Fox’s “Original Blessing” it shined a light that convinced me that I could stick with Christianity, and I have, although I have never found a church where I felt comfortable but have stuck with it anyway.
The practice of scapegoating, in my understanding, was always both historically and biblically an act of sacrifice to appease an angry god—a feeding of flesh (animal or human) to a unseen entity’s to assuage imagined demands for retribution and/or recompense. In 200 years the Roman Empire had turned the sacrifice of human beings (primarily Christian) into a public spectacle to please power-hungry dictators and a public thirsty for bread, blood and circuses. I grieve that so many must suffer and often die when power-hungry human beings, striving to become “gods,” ignore the consequences. In the simplest terms, the love of money is indeed the root of evil; and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
I am not familiar with the philosophy of Girard. However, history seems to show that much of humanity in general has been spiritually unbalanced and conditioned by patriarchal values such as duality, egocentricity, and anthropocentrism which have contributed greatly to our separation from the Living Present Sacred personally and societally, with all its consequent suffering and destructiveness up to the present time. Indigenous cultures/spirituality, mystics, prophets, saints, some artists, and good people from the past and present with genuine spiritual experiences and values have experienced and taught us that the Eternal Sacred Flow/Spirit of DIVINE LOVE~WISDOM of Our SOURCE~CO-CREATOR is ETERNALLY PRESENT within and among Us in Our LOVING DIVERSE ONENESS with Sacred and Beautiful Mother Earth and All physical/nonphysical spiritual dimensions and Beings of Our Sacred Eternally Evolving Creation~Cosmos and Angelic Realms… COMPASSIONATE COSMIC CHRIST CONSCIOUSNESS….
I loved the book by Gil Bailie, “The Cross Unveiled” which explains Girard’s scapegoating mechanism within society. It becomes clear that Jesus was taking an axe to the root of the Jewish ritual atonement of “blood sacrifice” by surrendering himself in the place of the scapegoat, as the Lamb of God in the Passover meal, in order to take the sins of the people away by his redeeming love. To stop the blood running in rivulets down from the altar, as animal after animal was sacrificed to “appease” God in the Temple, He gives us wine and bread as His Body and Blood. In order to get to transformation, instead of atonement, we need this understanding of loving sacrifice, and how we can be reconciled to a Loving God without the butchery of all these animals in the Temple ritual. Girard’s understanding of the mimetic nature of human beings is a big help for impelling us to learn from ritual, to understand Divine love. It is a tragedy that powerful people such as Vance and Thiel have no understanding of what this means, and that it is also FOR the whole community, not just for individual salvation.
Oh, GG. I so appreciate your discourse on scapegoat-ism and victimization. Especially, I salute your statement that “…Christianity potentially reveals to human society that all scapegoats are innocent, and that the mechanism of scapegoating violence must be stopped.” AMEN!
I have been reading Girard for the last six months. I’m now about twelve books in and surprised: I had expected to find a perhaps fancy right wing intellectual but have been delighted to find a major thinker with the single most exciting body of work I have seen in the last thirty years!
I am delighted to discover Mathew Fox has written on just these topics and am now awaiting my copy of his book on the matter.
Mathew is also a rediscovery! I once had a mentor who loved and recommended Fox to everyone he knew. I read lots of Mathew’s work in the 90’s and am also excited to read him newly.
I am most interested in the difference between a system which puts violence first, contrasted with a perspective I find in Nietzsche where ressentiment is grounded in the desire to escape a “tormenting secret pain that is becoming unendurable,…” I also hear, on this path, the words of Heidegger from On The Way To Language, speaking of pain as the ‘Flaming Vision of the Great soul!’ And I hear the etymology of ‘pain’ as grounded in ‘at-one-ment!
Thank you for what you are doing, I will keep my eyes on your site,
Peace, Jim Roi