Spirit, Violence, and the Transformation of Context

The last months have witnessed a worldwide spike in antisemitic and Islamophobic violence as communities are scapegoated for events thousands of miles away. This reality demands a response from theologians, especially given our historical complicity in such violence. Queer and political theologians have begun addressing scapegoating violence, but their proposals do not explain theology’s significance beyond the ecclesial community. I argue for a political theology that deploys practices of mourning to position the church (as Christ’s body) against the political powers responsible for victimization. The goal is twofold: first, that religious communities liberate themselves from the privilege enabling them to enact scapegoating violence; and, second, that believers would be formed into people who stand in solidarity with, or even in front of and in defense of, other victims. Normed by Christ and trained by the eucharist, Christians “complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions” by suffering for others’ sake.