Re: How Unconscious is it REALLY? -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

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Date Posted: 14:16:30 03/23/08 Sun
Author: Hwaet!
Subject: Re: How Unconscious is it REALLY?
In reply to: Jfish 's message, "Re: How Unconscious is it REALLY?" on 20:38:10 03/16/08 Sun

All right. This subject of defense interests me. Erin says that Jesus defended her, just not to the point of violence. Jon says that Jesus defended neither her nor her accusers. In this class we have spoken of violence as the natural end in which mimetic rivalry culminates; it is a point on a continuum. I think we'd all agree that it is not only violence that is the problem, but every stage on the continuum that leads to violence. The entire way of life is corrupt. This seems to suggest that all "active" (as opposed to Jon's "passive") opposition is wrong, for it is a point on the continuum that leads to violence. Jon has called Jesus' response a passive one, for he takes neither side; but does he not take a third side, namely his own, or rather Yahweh's side? And does he not argue for it vocally, even vehemently, throughout the Gospels ("You brood of vipers," "you are sons of Satan"). This is hardly passive, even if it does not culminate in immediate violence; it certainly provokes violence eventually, i.e., the crucifixion.

The way of the world is the contiuum that begins in rivalry, middles with arguments and opposition, and ends in violence. Jesus also is active, and his speech is vehement. We renounce the world for its active response and its vehement speech because these grow out of mimetic rivalry. But we do not renounce Jesus for his active response and his vehement speech, for these do not grow out of rivalry.

I'm wondering if there are two continuums that are identical in practice but different in nature. The first would be the world's continuum, which begins in active opposition and speech and ends in violence, and is the continuum of mimetic rivalry. The second would be continuum on which Jesus acts. It begins in active opposition and speech ("brood of vipers, sons of Satan"), and also ends in violence (Revelation). The difference is that Jesus' continuum has nothing to do with rivalry, and everything to do with speaking truth relentlessly.

Fire away.

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