Always bothered me that there was no agency given to God bc we weren’t satisfied with how he did things when in reality his condescending revelation to us, by Jesus, was the full expression of such holiness by his life, death and resurrection.
God's agency in creation is the freedom he gives to us to become like him as he shows himself to be in Jesus through his life, death and resurrection. This freedom is the necessary condition to become like him because without it, there is no love, and as we know, God is love.
Yes to evolution and (by faith), yes to the divine. What I find gets often overlooked by the anti-divine folks is a realistic wreslting with the quesion: 'Why does adpation and complexity happen'? Yes, there is terrible pain and violence, and yet, in the midst of that, amazingly, things adapt and grow.
As "Arrival of the Fittest: HOW NATURE INNOVATES," by Andreas Wagner puts it ..."Survival of the fittest is different than arrival of the fittest." Arrival implies something novel emerging. The anti-divine group doesn't seem to want to deal with that reality. (Though, I'm not trying to disrespect them.)
I'm thankful for Girard. He gives us a reasonablly intelligent way to understand religion within the evolution of humanity (which is itself, within the evolution of the whole earth and universe). It is fascinating though that he doesn't spend much time on positive mimesis. But, I guess that part is left up to us. :)
I absolutely agree. I always love telling the story of being human from the start of the universe for our bodies and all that it entails -- which is really so cool -- and of course the love that brought us into existence in terms of our souls. We are part of the story of the universe and the story of life on earth and at the same time something more. Girard helped me see that.
Really loved this piece, and want to ask how something new ever emerges for Girard? I mean this beyond the change of weather, of seasons, of fashions. How does the mimetic hall of mirrors become broken, through contingency, chance? Should read up on the Event concept maybe. What is it for Girard though?
Tell me more about event concept. In any case, mimesis is pervasive but not all power in the lives of those who are aware of its operations. One can become aware of what is going on and choose not to be drawn into the rivalry or conflict. I try to live by that insight and it is amazing how often one can help deescalate a situation.
Ah, I think it's something Badiou talks about, and Zizek uses it with Antigone as a prime example, which may not take it out of bounds of the mimesis concept. Antigone's act of burying her brother is as much a spontaneous conviction and drive as it is a social convention (a prohibited one). The drive aspect may be what I'm fishing for.
Always bothered me that there was no agency given to God bc we weren’t satisfied with how he did things when in reality his condescending revelation to us, by Jesus, was the full expression of such holiness by his life, death and resurrection.
God's agency in creation is the freedom he gives to us to become like him as he shows himself to be in Jesus through his life, death and resurrection. This freedom is the necessary condition to become like him because without it, there is no love, and as we know, God is love.
Good stuff. Thanks.
Yes to evolution and (by faith), yes to the divine. What I find gets often overlooked by the anti-divine folks is a realistic wreslting with the quesion: 'Why does adpation and complexity happen'? Yes, there is terrible pain and violence, and yet, in the midst of that, amazingly, things adapt and grow.
As "Arrival of the Fittest: HOW NATURE INNOVATES," by Andreas Wagner puts it ..."Survival of the fittest is different than arrival of the fittest." Arrival implies something novel emerging. The anti-divine group doesn't seem to want to deal with that reality. (Though, I'm not trying to disrespect them.)
I'm thankful for Girard. He gives us a reasonablly intelligent way to understand religion within the evolution of humanity (which is itself, within the evolution of the whole earth and universe). It is fascinating though that he doesn't spend much time on positive mimesis. But, I guess that part is left up to us. :)
I absolutely agree. I always love telling the story of being human from the start of the universe for our bodies and all that it entails -- which is really so cool -- and of course the love that brought us into existence in terms of our souls. We are part of the story of the universe and the story of life on earth and at the same time something more. Girard helped me see that.
Really loved this piece, and want to ask how something new ever emerges for Girard? I mean this beyond the change of weather, of seasons, of fashions. How does the mimetic hall of mirrors become broken, through contingency, chance? Should read up on the Event concept maybe. What is it for Girard though?
Tell me more about event concept. In any case, mimesis is pervasive but not all power in the lives of those who are aware of its operations. One can become aware of what is going on and choose not to be drawn into the rivalry or conflict. I try to live by that insight and it is amazing how often one can help deescalate a situation.
Ah, I think it's something Badiou talks about, and Zizek uses it with Antigone as a prime example, which may not take it out of bounds of the mimesis concept. Antigone's act of burying her brother is as much a spontaneous conviction and drive as it is a social convention (a prohibited one). The drive aspect may be what I'm fishing for.