The Origin of Religion

The Girardian hypothesis argues that all cultures, civilizations, and religions are founded on a holy violence typically focused on a scapegoat. This violence must be reenacted or relived throughout time, a cleansing ritual where the sins or shadow of a society is placed on a deified victim. Often religions and governments hide the original scapegoat with romantic myths or sterilized narratives. Could the idea of the “sacred scapegoat” be today’s cancel culture? An unattended collective shadow or overlooked sins? From Jesus to Baldur, from Azazel to Dionysus, let’s find out and more.

Robert M. Price materialized at the Virtual Alexandria for this sacrificial role.