Summary of Bishop Barron on René Girard

Summary of Key Ideas

The video features Bishop Barron discussing the life and contributions of René Girard, a significant Catholic philosopher who recently passed away. Girard's work revolves around the concepts of desire, conflict, and scapegoating, which he explored through literature and biblical narratives.

Main Concepts:

Triangular and mimetic desire:
- Desire is often not straightforward; instead, it is mimetic, meaning we desire what others desire.
- This creates a triangular dynamic involving the self, the object of desire, and another person.
- Example: Advertising exploits this principle, as people often desire products because influential figures (like celebrities) desire them.
Conflict Arising from mimetic desire:
- mimetic desire can lead to conflict, as individuals or groups compete for the same objects or status.
- Example: In social settings, when one child desires a toy another child is playing with, it can lead to conflict.
scapegoating Mechanism:
- Girard identified a "scapegoating mechanism" where individuals or groups project their struggles onto a third party, blaming them for their issues.
- This mechanism often leads to temporary solidarity among the group as they unite against the scapegoat.
- Example: Historical instances, such as Hitler's exploitation of this mechanism to unify Germans against the Jews during economic struggles.
Sacralization of scapegoating:
- Societies often sacralize scapegoating, viewing it as a necessary evil or even a divine act.
- Girard found this dynamic reflected in literature and mythology, where violence and scapegoating are often glorified.
Biblical Revelation:
- Girard argued that the Bible reveals the truth about scapegoating and sacred violence.
- Unlike other myths, the Bible shows that God identifies with the scapegoated victim (e.g., Jesus' crucifixion).
- This revelation challenges the traditional view of sacred violence and highlights the true nature of God as opposed to the scapegoating mechanism.
Christianity as Unique:
- Girard posits that Christianity is not just another iteration of the monomyth (the universal myth) but rather deconstructs it.
- It unveils the dynamics that other myths seek to conceal, affirming Christianity's unique role in understanding human desire and conflict.

Methodology/Instructions:

Observe and analyze mimetic desire in everyday situations (e.g., children with toys, advertising).
Recognize instances of scapegoating in social dynamics and historical contexts.
Reflect on the biblical narratives and how they reveal the dynamics of scapegoating and violence.

Speakers/Sources Featured:

Bishop Barron (primary speaker discussing René Girard)

Notable Quotes

— 06:30 — « The Bible unmasked the identification between the gods and the scapegoating mechanism. »

— 08:46 — « Christianity is not one more iteration of the monom myth; Christianity is the deconstruction of the monom myth. »