The maîtres à penser of the MAGA movement, such as Peter Thiel and J.D. Vance, make use of some great Christian authors to support their understanding of Christianity. In reality, they mangle, bend, and ultimately utterly misunderstand their sources. We saw a blatant example of this when the late pope Francis issued a public rebuke of J.D. Vance’s interpretation of the meaning of Christian love based on St. Augustine. (See DM April 28.)
Do they perform such misinterpretation willingly or because of a lack of sufficient intellectual abilities? I can’t answer this question, although I swing toward the second option.
One author that is misused by these presumed intellectuals is the late René Girard (1923-2015), a world-renowned literary critic turned philosopher. In particular, they quote Girard in order to assert the absolute pre-eminence of Christianity over other world religions.
Girard did in fact argue that the Christian texts collected in the New Testament uncovered for the first time in history the violent dynamics on which human society is based, thus making it possible for humans to see the truth of their horrible behavior so they can apply themselves to change it.
Girard’s basic intuition about mimetic desire, which he derived originally from his analysis of narratives such as novels, has proven very strong and generative. His descriptions of how a “mimetic crisis” produces violence are masterpieces in their own right.
In essence, Girard shows that our desires usually are not authentic, as we desire what other people already desire. For this reason, envy and jealousy are the real matter of which our relationships are made of. Rivalries for the same object of desire are always at risk of escalating to violent attacks, as in fact they do, both at the interpersonal level (homicides) and between societies (wars).
Far from being a solution to the problem, religions are part of the same mechanism insofar as they are based on the sacrifice of a scapegoat — which originally was an animal, but then developed historically into a human being or a group of human beings, as we see also in collective lynchings, pogroms, and the like.
Violence is contagious and can grow paroxismally. When a society is beset by strong currents of violence, it looks automatically and unconsciously for a victim, a scapegoat, on which all the murderous violence can be poured. After the sacrifice of the scapegoat, society is at peace for a short while, even though the mechanism of violence is still fully in place, just waiting to be rekindled.
From this brief summary, everybody can see that Girard’s thought is full of interesting ideas, as well as disturbing elements. If you had a reaction of this kind, while reading this DM, you are indeed in good company.
Christianity comes into play in Girardian thought because it is a religion which celebrates symbolically the martyrdom of a human scapegoat, Jesus, as its main worship action. It can therefore be seen as a strong supporter of the social mechanism of scapegoating, which is simply repeated and thus reinforced at each Mass. Jesus is a “willing victim” who models for others the acceptance of being victimized.
However, says Girard, Christianity can also be the solution to the human problem, because (a) its sacrifice is bloodless/symbolic, and (b) the narrative of the sacrifice of Jesus makes clear that he was completely innocent. Thus, Christianity potentially reveals to human society that all scapegoats are innocent, and that the mechanism of scapegoating violence must be stopped.
One can be in favor or against the elaborate understanding of Christianity offered by Girard, but it is mind boggling that Thiel, Vance, and their friends fail to see that what they suggest and enact every day through the policies of the Trump administration, is completely opposite to what Girard suggested.
Their policies basically consist of scapegoating the immigrants, the progressives, the transgenders, etc., etc. The mechanism of victimization of individuals and groups, which is what Girard believed was unmasked by the Christian narrative, is what they continually support and enforce.
Can’t they see? Are they blind?
As to the “superiority” of Christianity, which can be derived from Girard’s thought — even though in a very qualified way — I suggest it can be reframed through Matthew Fox’s understanding of dialectic, the both/and dynamic which grounds his thinking and all healthy spirituality. It may be the case that Girard uncovered a fundamental dynamic of our species, that of violence and scapegoating, and that the Christian texts (not the actual behavior of most Christians) do offer a way out of it.
However, other spiritual traditions have applied themselves to other aspects of the human life that are no less important or fundamental. Rather than being identical, it is only by means of a mosaic of the best among the spiritual intuitions and the scientific hypotheses of humanity that we can find a way out of the terrible mess in which we find ourselves at this time in the history of our species.
For the dialectic, see Matthew Fox, A Spirituality Named Compassion, pp. 82-87
See also Fox, Trump and the MAGA Movement as Anti-Christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election
And Fox, Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul and Society
And
Banner image: “STOP WAR.” The contributor says, “I’m from Russia. I am totally ashamed of the actions of our government in relation to Ukraine. This disgusting war must be stopped..” By Ivan, on Flickr
Queries for Contemplation
Which intuitions by Girard can find a place in your understanding of violence, humanity, and Christianity? And which do you reject, and why?
Recommended Reading
A Spirituality Named Compassion: Uniting Mystical Awareness with Social Justice
In A Spirituality Named Compassion, Matthew Fox delivers a profound exploration of the meaning and practice of compassion. Establishing a spirituality for the future that promises personal, social, and global healing, Fox marries mysticism with social justice, leading the way toward a gentler and more ecological spirituality and an acceptance of our interdependence which is the substratum of all compassionate activity.
“Well worth our deepest consideration…Puts compassion into its proper focus after centuries of neglect.” –The Catholic Register
Trump & The MAGA Movement as Anti-Christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election
Matthew Fox tells us that he had always shied away from using the term “Anti-Christ” because it was so often used to spread control and fear. However, given today’s rise of authoritarianism and forces of democracide, ecocide, and christofascism, he turns the tables in this book employing the archetype for the cause of justice, democracy, and a renewed Earth and humanity.
From the Foreword: If there was ever a time, a moment, for examining the archetype of the Antichrist, it is now…Read this book with an open mind. Good and evil are real forces in our world. ~~ Caroline Myss, author of Anatomy of the Spirit and Conversations with the Divine.
For immediate access to Trump & The MAGA Movement as Anti-Christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election, order the e-book with 10 full-color prints from Amazon HERE.
To get a print-on-demand paperback copy with black & white images, order from Amazon HERE or IUniverse HERE.
To receive a limited-edition, full-color paperback copy, order from MatthewFox.org HERE.
Order the audiobook HERE for immediate download.
Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul and Society
Visionary theologian and best-selling author Matthew Fox offers a new theology of evil that fundamentally changes the traditional perception of good and evil and points the way to a more enlightened treatment of ourselves, one another, and all of nature. In comparing the Eastern tradition of the 7 chakras to the Western tradition of the 7 capital sins, Fox allows us to think creatively about our capacity for personal and institutional evil and what we can do about them.
“A scholarly masterpiece embodying a better vision and depth of perception far beyond the grasp of any one single science. A breath-taking analysis.” — Diarmuid O’Murchu, author of Quantum Theology: Spiritual Implications of the New Physics
Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision for a New Generation
Authors Adam Bucko and Matthew Fox encourage us to use our talents in service of compassion and justice and to move beyond our broken systems–economic, political, educational, and religious–discovering a spirituality that not only helps us to get along, but also encourages us to reevaluate our traditions, transforming them and in the process building a more sacred and just world. Incorporating the words of young activist leaders culled from interviews and surveys, the book provides a framework that is deliberately interfaith and speaks to our profound yearning for a life with spiritual purpose and for a better world.
“Occupy Spirituality is a powerful, inspiring, and vital call to embodied awareness and enlightened actions.”
~~ Julia Butterfly Hill, environmental activist and author of The Legacy of Luna: The Story of a Tree, a Woman, and the Struggle to Save the Redwoods
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