• Login
    View Item 
    •   DSpace Home
    • Sewanee: School of Theology Theses
    • Sewanee: School of Theology Theses 2017
    • View Item
    •   DSpace Home
    • Sewanee: School of Theology Theses
    • Sewanee: School of Theology Theses 2017
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Our Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving: Rene Girard and the Eucharist

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    MurrayOurSacrificeSOT17.pdf (820.6Kb)
    Author
    Murray, William Seldon
    Date
    2017-05-11
    Type
    Thesis
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/11005/3698
    Subject
    School of Theology Thesis 2017; School of Theology, University of the South; Mimetic theory; Rene Giraud; Non-violent atonement theory; Anglican Eucharistic theology; Forgiveness; Reconciliation
    Abstract
    This paper reviews mimetic theory described by Rene Girard. The mimetic cycle of mimetic desire, mimetic rivalry, mimetic conflict, the scapegoat mechanism, and generative violence craft a portrait of human society as founded on conflict and violence. Girard’s non-violent view of atonement as understood through the gospels presents an alternative to penal substitutionary atonement theory. Jesus’ death was intended to free humanity from the traps of mimetic theory and the scapegoat mechanism. This paper provides a brief survey and review of Anglican Eucharistic Theology, especially the concept of sacrifice and in the context of Jesus’ meal ministry. Since Jesus knew that he was to be betrayed and denied, the author comes to the conclusion that the Last Supper is consonant with Christ’s meal ministry of restoration. Therefore, communion is an attempt to craft a positive mimesis wherein Jesus teaches reconciliation even as the scapegoat mechanism begins to close in around him. Sacrifice in this context is not the prescribed death of Jesus but the peaceful offering of love and reconciliation before the forces of evil and death. In Girardian language, Jesus chose to present a role model to mimic in order to provide a positive mimesis that could stop the scapegoat mechanism and prevent the violence that has long plagued humanity. The Eucharist was and is and should be a powerful symbol of that positive mimesis of forgiveness and reconciliation.
    Collections
    • Sewanee: School of Theology Theses 2017

    Browse

    All of DSpaceCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

    My Account

    Login

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    DSpace software copyright © 2002-2022  DuraSpace
    Contact Us | Send Feedback
    DSpace Express is a service operated by 
    Atmire NV