An Introduction to René Girard Part 2: Ritual Sacrifice

In part 2 we're talking about sacrificial violence and how Christianity breaks the religious mould. All religions are built to systematize the scapegoat mechanism. All religions display the generative scapegoat mechanism's ability to contain our violence. Only Christianity exposes and ultimately undermines sacrifice's​ power though.

[@pierreleroy6826]

Excellent, blessings from France

[@commonschurch]

Thanks for watching 🙏

[@imogen.magenta]

Best explanation of Jesus sacrifice I’ve ever heard. And of course of Girard. Thanks

[@crakoDmazz]

Brilliant! Been looking all over the internet for a thorough explanation of Girard and rituals. So happy to have found this :)

[@commonschurch]

Nice. Thanks for watching.

[@TheBirdBrothers]

I think this is a very clear exposition of particularly this part of the Girsrdian take. Bravo. Very worthwhile series, thank you.

[@ChrisSaenz13]

I'm really enjoying this series - just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate these videos. I was looking for info on the book "Wanting" by Luke Burgis and found out about Rene Girard and your awesome series popped up. I could listen to this type of intelligent and thought provoking discussion all day!!!! :)

[@commonschurch]

Thanks for watching. Let me know if you’ve got any questions.

[@Apol-los]

Thanks for posting this! Me and my mentor have been doing a word study on "sacrifice" and it was helpful to hear your breakdown of Girard's insights on scapegoating.

[@commonschurch]

Neat. One of the interesting things you can look at is the shift in the book of revelation from the expected sacrificial temple language to slaughter House language. This doesn’t always come through in the English translations but Loren Johns has done some good work here.

[@Apol-los]

Thanks! I'll look into it!

[@commonschurch]

Check out pages 81-83 here www.academia.edu/36173393/A_GIRARDIAN_READING_OF_VIOLENT_IMAGERY_IN_REVELATION or go straight to the source in Loren L. Johns, The Lamb Christology of the Apocalypse of John: An Investigation into Its Origins and Rhetorical Force (Eugene: Wipf and Stock, 2003), 161.

[@artofneed2317]

Growing up Catholic, the story of Jesus Christ always intrigued me. Unfortunately there hasn't been enough evidence that people learn from that story (that we don't need a scapegoat). In fact people use the bible to justify violence and to justify calling others outsiders, such as Muslims, or immigrants or terrorists, or black people. Our own president is constantly using the scapegoat method. I can see how the story of Christ and the rise of Christianity helped to create moral laws on a terribly violent society, but we may need a new story to help us evolve again.

[@no.stache.nietzsche1635]

Even more excited to pick up Girard now! Thanks for the vid, looking forward to more Granted everything you said here, I can't help but be reminded of the "liberal white guilt" phenomenon that has always seemed a postChristian (ie still essentially ethically Christian but atheistic, lefitist a la Zizek et al) way of coping psychically with our tragic realities

[@itstoogooditswaytoogood3211]

This video is really good

[@commonschurch]

Thanks. Check out the rest of the series.

[@EliasTaborda]

So if Jesus's whole message was that there were no true outsiders or scapegoats why do the majority of Christians believe the opposite?

[@commonschurch]

good question

[@tutorialchief]

you should talk with rabbies about this because they have a big problem with the "sacrifice taking away our sins" theme which is understandable because they see something else in it, they see the wrong interpretation that we than ignore everyday life sins and do nothing good anymore, also that its clearly stated and in general logic that another man cannot take away your sins, so if they see that it was completely others meant to be, maybe it takes away their hate against christianity.

[@PeterShieldsukcatstripey]

We can forgive what they are not aware they are doing.

[@sketchbook1]

Jesus was the literal fulfillment, in a truly propitiatory way, of the real need to have someone to take away our sins. It's not just a story. It's a real event in history. It's a real event, and it has real effects on our spiritual lives. Jesus' death propitiates, expiates, and reconciles.

[@commonschurch]

I'm not sure God is nearly as bloodthirsty as we are.

[@sketchbook1]

@@commonschurch He's not made of straw, either.

[@commonschurch]

Amen

[@salomesandoval107]

dom you believe in satan existence??

[@commonschurch]

Part 4 in this series deals with Girard's ideas about Satan.

[@matthewjackson9615]

This guy gives me the creeps. My instincts tell me something is wrong this guy. I don't know what it is that makes me feel uneasy but I have learned to trust my instincts.

[@michellekemp4709]

Instinct is not enough to dismiss what someone says. Go research what he says then decide whether he is making sense or not.