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Talkingbird

Rene Girard: Church Father for a Secular Age – James Wilson

May 9, 2022
James Wilson, in the ordination process for Christ Church, presents a fascinating talk on René Girard at the Mockingbird Conference. He dives into Girard's transformation from atheist to Catholic, revealing the intersection of science and religion. Wilson explores the modern challenges Christianity faces in a secular world, discussing how mimetic desire fuels conflict and social media exacerbates dissatisfaction. He highlights the historical significance of scapegoating, pointing to Christ as a transformative figure for contemporary spiritual crises.
41:14

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Rene Girard's concept of mimetic desire illustrates how human ambition is often influenced by others, challenging individual perceptions of personal goals.
  • Girard's scapegoat mechanism reveals the cyclical nature of violence in society, emphasizing Christianity's unique awareness of this dynamic through Christ's narrative.

Deep dives

Overview of Rene Girard's Influence

Rene Girard is positioned as a significant thinker of the 21st century, credited for bridging the gap between science and religion. His work, primarily as a cultural anthropologist rather than a theologian, spans various disciplines, including psychology and literary studies. Girard's complex ideas challenge conventional theological understanding, incorporating a new vocabulary and framework that can be difficult to grasp initially. His important insights are seen as relevant for the contemporary church, particularly as they address the decline in institutional religion and the need for a robust faith narrative.

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