The Girard Reader (Crossroad Herder Book)

This is a thoroughly generous and well-balanced introduction to the writings and thought of Rene Girard. His mimetic theory has immense explanatory power radically reaching into and connecting seemingly disparate disciplines and thought-worlds. His more anthropological approach to the Judeo-Christian narrative, climaxing in the Gospel of Jesus, provides an incredible perspective that surely makes for a healthy corrective both to dangerously abstract and dehistoricized theological interpretations of the atonement (that could at the very least subconsciously lead to the endorsement and use of brutal violence), and also to the popular “post-Christian” attempt to pit the concern for victims against the idea of an almost inherently oppressive Christianity (which is itself the intellectual and spiritual revolution that first gave voice to the scapegoated victim in the first place). Between this Reader and the 5 part CBC interview with Rene Girard (do listen to that as well on YouTube), I am captivated by the brilliance of this man, and have been drawn both Girard’s other books and also those works of his influences and conversation partners.

While Rene Girard is less well known in the United States, in Europe, and I speak particularly of France and Germany, he is considered one of the great thinkers of modern times, on a par--insofar as his influence and his innovative thought is concerned--with Freud and Marx, and he is a far more noteworthy thinker for us at this historical moment than either of those two men, whatever their reputation. Girard's work is as accessible as it is startling in its clarity, fundamental simplicity, and authenticity. Reading Girard draws us into one prolonged "Aha!" moment where we ask ourselves over and over how something so clear and so simple could have escaped our notice. René Girard is--or rather was--a practicing Christian, but he had the most tolerant, open-minded respect and interest in the values of others. Moreover, his theories are not contingent upon any acceptance of Christian dogma. He was a thinker of great stature and we should all mourn his passing.

This book is a great addition to my Girard library in French. I wanted to be able to share my keen interest for his inspiring work and ideas with all my American friends and family. This is the perfect entry point for readers who are prepared to make the effort: this is not casual reading. But the reward in a critical look on many tough issues of our personal and societal lives is well worth it.

Girard has deepest intellectual argument for the Transformative power of the Gospel. Silicon Valley's Peter Theil is a former student and supporter of Girard's thought

For me this is a key reference book as I don't have the time or energy to read all the writings of this great philosopher. His theories on the development of culture, especially, religion, are remarkable. The Girard Reader clearly shows his memetic theory, how he developed it, and its importance. For Christians he shows the meaning and impact of Jesus.

Happy to find this "reader" as his collections are vast.

Okay book for a boring class

While René Girard is a great thinker, this anthology pushes Girard in a decidedly "Christian" direction due to the bias and taste of the editor, James Williams. The essays and extracts from Girard's books here suffer from selection bias. Two much more interesting and representative collections of essays by Girard are his "To Double-Business Bound" and the more recent and really great "Mimesis and Theory" -- which came out not long ago from Stanford University Press. Both are better introductions to his work. Girard is a Catholic writer/philosopher, and his Christianity should not be discounted; his profound reading of religious and cultural history cannot and should not be separated from his faith. That said, he tends to be used like a lifeline by second-rate academics and theologians who tend to memorize every word he ever wrote and repeat them ad nauseum at conferences and on blogs because it makes them feel less out of it culturally. Think of the John Lithgow character in "Dirty Dancing." Now imagine if he thought he'd be more persuasive if he knew SOMETHING about modern life...so he watches Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" video 50 times and learns to bust a move or two. He's still a crappy dancer, but he feels like he's inoculated against accusations of being a square forevermore. That's how Girard is used by his conservative Christian "fans" (like Williams), who are so thrilled to have one first-rate philosopher they can claim as one of their own. The problem is, it does a disservice to Girard to co-opt him in this way. And this anthology is an example of that. Yes it has great stuff in it -- right out of RG's books. But it's not a general "Reader" so much as a "survey" biased at every step to emphasize the Christological aspect of Girard's work, which will turn off the non-Christians or the uncommitted. A shame since Girard's insights and incredibly brilliant readings of a staggering variety of texts and cultural events should appeal to a wide readership. Read MIMESIS AND THEORY instead.  Mimesis and Theory: Essays on Literature and Criticism, 1953-2005 (Cultural Memory in the Present)

The thoughts contained in this book regarding sacrifice and the whole notion of scapegoating, turn traditional thought inside out. An absolute must read for anyone who wants to understand what the crucifixion of Christ actually means. In every other religion throughout time, sacrifice was a means to move into union or favour with God by propitiating or appeasing God's anger. Girard reveals that the sacrifice of Christ was just the opposite. In Christ, God stepped into human flesh to sacrifice God's self in order to appease our wrath and fear towards God by unthinkable love.