Re: Violating Distinctions in Christianity -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

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Date Posted: 19:59:05 02/10/08 Sun
Author: Hwaet!
Subject: Re: Violating Distinctions in Christianity
In reply to: Caitlin 's message, "Re: Violating Distinctions in Christianity" on 13:23:22 02/10/08 Sun

I think the distinction between sameness and commonality is useful. And I would agree that �commonality� strikes a healthy balance between sameness and difference, so that people united by commonality have enough differences to prevent a mimetic crisis, as well as enough similarities to be united in a community around common values (forming what Russell Kirk calls a �cult� in �The Question of Tradition,� from Prospects for Conservatives, in the American Heritage Reader).

Nevertheless, I don�t think that, as you suggest, �commonality� is a more suitable word when discussing similarity in the context of Christianity. I say this because sameness ultimately poses the same dangers to all peoples of all religions, Christians included, so we are obligated to use the same vocabulary (even if it would mean we must scrap the word �sameness,� which we don�t). I do think you�re on track, because clearly Christianity seems to deal with sameness in a less violent way than primitive religions do. But I don�t think it is because Christians strike �commonality.� That is, I don�t think that Christians are united because they have learned to balance sameness and difference. Moderation is not the key. Christianity is unique because it demands that Christians embrace sameness when they encounter it, rather than getting caught up in mimetic rivalry as their sinful nature is wont to do. Christians aren�t to find a balance; they are to run to the other extreme, to the polar opposite of their sinful nature. And it is not enough for Christians merely to react peaceably to sameness: they must rejoice in it. As I said earlier, this change sounds impossible, but the ability to rejoice in sameness is, among other things, what makes Christianity unique.

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Replies:

Re: Violating Distinctions in Christianity -- Erin Risch, 07:28:23 02/16/08 Sat