Rene Girard

[ntchristian]

Is anyone familiar with the writings of this atheist-turned-Roman Catholic philosopher and theologian? Recently I discovered him, and this has been life-changing for me. Along with Eastern Orthodox soteriology, Girard's writings have made it possible for me to remain a Christian. Girard sees Jesus as being in the line of the Old Testament prophets, in that He came to refute and put an end to scapegoating and sacrifice. I find it interesting that Girard became a Roman Catholic, because his views on the atonement are opposed to the RC view of Satisfaction. I'm also finding that his views have influenced a lot of people in other denominations.

 

[Adonia]

I just read that he is dead - he died in 2015 at the age of 91.

 

[ntchristian]

I just read that he is dead - he died in 2015 at the age of 91.

Yes, I knew that. Are you familiar with his writings?

 

[ntchristian]

I was hoping that especially our Catholic members would respond. I find it curious that Girard would choose Roman Catholicism, seeing that his atonement view is much closer to that of Eastern Orthodoxy or Anabaptists/Mennonites, such as J. Denny Weaver's Narrative Christus Victor. I was wondering how Girard could fit into Catholicism since his atonement view is diametrically opposed to Rome's Satisfaction theory.

 

[Adonia]

Yes, I knew that. Are you familiar with his writings?

Not at all, in fact this is the first time I have heard of him, but I looked him up and it seems he had many subjects that he was intent on flushing out. He was all over the place - literary criticism, critical theory, anthropology, theology, and psychology to name a few. He was a man in search of answers that's for sure.

 

[Adonia]

I was hoping that especially our Catholic members would respond. I find it curious that Girard would choose Roman Catholicism, seeing that his atonement view is much closer to that of Eastern Orthodoxy or Anabaptists/Mennonites, such as J. Denny Weaver's Narrative Christus Victor. I was wondering how Girard could fit into Catholicism since his atonement view is diametrically opposed to Rome's Satisfaction theory.

Perhaps he chose Catholicism because it is basically the national religion of France and he felt a sense of familiarity with it?

 

[ntchristian]

Perhaps he chose Catholicism because it is basically the national religion of France and he felt a sense of familiarity with it?

I hadn't thought of that, but could be you're right.