Know Your Enemy

A Remedy for Envy? René Girard Redux [TEASER]

Mar 4, 2024

Matt and Sam explore René Girard's insights on envy through Pope Francis's teachings, discussing the role of Christianity in addressing societal violence and inequality. They touch on Girard's attachment to Christianity, the politics of Jesus, and the looming apocalyptic violence he predicted.

02:59

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Quick takeaways

Christianity can offer a remedy for social ills like violence and hatred by challenging societal norms.

The US demonstrates un-Christian values through practices like punitive executions, highlighting systemic injustices.

Deep dives

Christianity as a Radical Solution

The podcast delves into the idea that Christianity is not viewed as a conventional solution for social or political issues but rather provides a foundation to combat the prevalent violence, hatred, and callousness in society. The conversion to this Christianity would necessitate a significant overhaul of the social structure, challenging the existing norms and systems. The discussion highlights how the current societal acceptance of suffering and punitive measures contrasts with the transformative potential of a truly radical interpretation of Christianity.

Reevaluating Christianity's Role in Society

3min

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Matt and Sam return to René Girard via Pope Francis—whom Matt personally met at a recent general audience at the Vatican, and whose homily at that audience addressed the problem of envy, and what Christianity might have to teach us about it. Topics include: how to think about Girard's Christianity, in terms both of how it informs his work and his own attachment to it; the politics of Jesus, and whether or not any of the preceding can actually help us avoid the apocalyptic violence Girard thought was building as we hurtle toward "the end times."

Read:

René Girard, I See Satan Fall Like Lightning (1999)

Scott Cowdell, René Girard and Secular Modernity: Christ, Culture, and Crisis (2015)

Pope Francis, "Envy and Vainglory," Full text of general audience remarks, Feb 28, 2024

John Ganz's Unpopular Front series on Girard: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4

Herbert McCabe, "Class Struggle and Christian Love" in God Matters (2012)

James Alison, The Joy of Being Wrong: Original Sin Through Easter Eyes (1998)

James Allison, "Girard's Breakthrough," The Tablet, June 29, 1996.

Patricia Lockwood, "When I Met the Pope," LRB, Nov 30, 2023.

Listen:

Know Your Enemy, "René Girard and the Right" (w/ John Ganz), Feb 26, 2024

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