Violence, the Sacred, and Things Hidden: A Discussion with Rene Girard at Esprit (1973)

Never before translated into English, this 1973 discussion between René Girard and other prominent scholars represents a significant breakthrough in mimetic theory. It prompted Girard to reconsider the sociological interpretation of religion and deploy an epistemology rooted in Biblical revelation, vindicating the anthropological relevance of Judeo-Christian scriptures.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 150 pages
Publication date: 01 November 2021
Publisher: Michigan State University Press

René Girard, a renowned scholar in the field of mimetic theory, engaged in a groundbreaking discussion in 1973, which has yet to be translated into English. Organized by the French journal Esprit, this conversation provided a platform for Girard to delve into the theories he expounded in his seminal work, Violence and the Sacred (1972). During the discussion, Girard engaged in a lively exchange with a group of esteemed scholars, challenging their sociological interpretation of religion and highlighting the misrecognition of violent scapegoating at its origins and in its myths and ritual practices. By addressing the relationship between his critique of primitive or archaic religion and the role of Judeo-Christianity, these scholars prompted Girard to reevaluate his understanding of religion.

The ensuing discussion marked a significant turning point in Girard's intellectual journey, leading him to deploy an epistemology rooted in Biblical revelation. He viewed this epistemology as an ongoing deconstruction of sacrificial practices, vindicating for the first time the anthropological relevance of Judeo-Christian scriptures. This 1973 discussion thus represents a new and decisive step in Girard's intellectual development, making this volume a critical document for understanding the transition period between Violence and the Sacred and Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World (1978).

In conclusion, the 1973 discussion between René Girard and other prominent scholars is a groundbreaking breakthrough in mimetic theory. Through his engagement with these scholars, Girard challenged the sociological interpretation of religion, reevaluated the role of Judeo-Christianity, and deployed an epistemology rooted in Biblical revelation. This discussion marked a new and decisive phase in Girard's intellectual journey, making this volume a critical document for understanding the transition period between Violence and the Sacred and Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World.

Weight: 118g
Dimension: 115 x 151 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781611864069