Exploring Mimetic Theory: Theological and Political Dimensions

Submitted to Program Units
1: Colloquium on Violence and Religion

The first paper revisits the concept of monotheism through Schelling’s philosophical lens, enriched by Girard's insights into the nature of divine and human imitation. It presents an intriguing dialogue between biblical narratives and philosophical thought, shedding light on the evolution of religious consciousness.

The second paper expands the conversation into the realms of theology and social justice, exploring how the Cross shapes historical and contemporary political realities. By placing Girard and Lonergan in dialogue with Ellacuría's political theology, it offers a pathway to a political praxis rooted in love and informed by a deep understanding of human tendencies towards victimization.

Papers

Chris Morrissey, Trinity Western University

Monotheism, Intolerance, and the Path to Pluralistic Politics: A Schellingian Review

Abstract

This paper provides a response to Christopher Haw’s book Monotheism, Intolerance, and the Path to Pluralistic Politics by evaluating it within the understanding of monotheism developed by F.W.J. Schelling in his philosophy of mythology and his philosophy of revelation.

First, Schelling’s conceptions of natural theism, relative monotheism, successive polytheism, and absolute monotheism are interpreted from the standpoint of René Girard’s mimetic theory. Examples from the book of Genesis are used to illustrate Schelling’s ideas. Second, these ideas are compared with Haw’s discussion of Girard’s understanding of monotheism as a “refusal to divinize victims.” Schelling’s philosophy is shown to be illuminated by mimetic theory and Haw’s treatment of it.

Regarding Genesis, the evolution of a conscious awareness of God is discernible in the five cycles of Genesis and in some parallel mythologems in Hesiod’s Greek mythology. Five points in particular are discussed by using mimetic theory together with some Schellingian interpretations.
Matthew Cuff, Boston College

The Politics of the Cross: Insights from Girard, Ellacuría, and Lonergan

Abstract

René Girard and Bernard Lonergan both offer theologies of the Cross that recognize God as having definitively marked history through the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus. For Girard, the Cross reveals God as fundamentally the God of the innocent victim, as well as own tendency to scapegoat and create victims. Lonergan notes that the Cross and the redemption that emerges from it has resulted in a “change for the better” in history. Despite the claims of Girard and Lonergan, the scandal of social sin on a grand scale persists. How can this be? And what does this failure to see mean for politics - our shared social life - today? This paper offers tentative insights into this problematic by placing Girard and Lonergan in dialogue with Ignacio Ellacuría and his political theology of the "crucified people." Taken together, these authors offer important principles for a Christian political praxis rooted in love.

Audiovisual Requirements

Resources

LCD Projector and Screen

Full Papers Available

Program Unit Options

Session Length

90 Minutes

Schedule Preference Other

Sunday 9am-10:30 or Sunday 9:30am-11am (we will conduct our business meeting in this session)

Schedule Info

Sunday, 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Session Identifier

P24-105

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