Re: A New Mimeticism -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

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Date Posted: 07:20:48 02/27/08 Wed
Author: Kiernan
Subject: Re: A New Mimeticism
In reply to: Cara 's message, "Re: A New Mimeticism" on 20:24:09 02/24/08 Sun

Cara, your thoughts recalled an important question which I still have not resolved - are differences inherently good, inherently bad, or neither? If they are always the cause of violence, should they be eradicated? However, in so doing, are we eradicating culture itself, which, according to Girard, is based on differences? How can we live peaceably with differences?

While contemplating these questions, I came across this verse in Romans which might shed light on the issue:

"Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God." Romans 14:5-6

Here, it seems that differences about many things are to be allowed. As long as they are "done to the Lord," which could be interpreted to be part of an imitatio Christi in which we are imitating Christ as well as we can, they are permissible. Later Paul writes against judging our fellow brothers and sister in Christ, saying "Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God" (Romans 14:10-11). This text is interesting because it introduces the idea of judgment into our discussion of mimeticism. When a crowd kills a victim, it is because they have judged him to be guilty. Yet, as Christ's passion alone demonstrates, such human "justice" cannot match God's. Thus, it seems that Paul readily welcomes differences done in pursuit of an imitation of Christ, provided that we recognize that we are all sinners, weak and ignorant, and that we are unable to judge correctly - because in all cases we will judge ourselves innocent if at all possible and scapegoat someone else.

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Jesus likes Heineken AND Pabst Blue Ribbon -- Hwaet!, 17:36:48 02/28/08 Thu