PAGE 4:
Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World
Arguably, Girard’s most important work, this book explores how mimetic theory gets worked out in real human societies, not just in literature, as Girard had explored in earlier books.
At certain points in the life of a society, according to Girard, this mimetic conflict erupts into a crisis in which all difference dissolves in indiscriminate violence. In primitive societies, such crises were resolved by the “scapegoating mechanism,” in which the community, en masse, turned on an unpremeditated victim. The repression of this collective murder and its repetition in ritual sacrifice then formed the foundations of both religion and the restored social order.
<<<<<< PREV. PAGE | NEXT PAGE >>>>>>>
![]() Reading for the Common Good From ERB Editor Christopher Smith "This book will inspire, motivate and challenge anyone who cares a whit about the written word, the world of ideas, the shape of our communities and the life of the church." -Karen Swallow Prior Enter your email below to sign up for our weekly newsletter & download your FREE copy of this ebook! |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Thanks for this intro to the work of Rene Girard. The video is fascinating. Well worth the time.