“In olden times, people used to look for scapegoats in those who were different in appearance and behavior. Then the crucifixion happened and, finally, we started making progress and tried hard to move away from the child sacrifice and witch hunting. We identified, with the compassion of Christ, that these people needed special care so […]
For All Saints Day, David Gornoski interviews Jason Jones, a film producer, author, activist and Catholic human rights worker. As fellow students of Rene Girard, they explore the foundational principles of Catholic social teaching, social justice victimism, how the unborn child is the ultimate scapegoat in the West, and how loving our neighbor can transform […]
Episode 6 introduces us to Michael Gibson, General Partner of 1517 Fund, the university-defying capital fund aimed at empowering young entrepreneurs to make the world better through science and innovation. Named after the date of Martin Luther’s 95 theses, 1517 Fund is hosting a General Assembly on October 31, 2017. Learn more here: https://medium.com/the-mission/announ… Hosted […]
My recent essay‘s size constraints didn’t permit me to elaborate on this but I do have a nuanced view of the jury system theory. I see it as a Christian revelation-influenced move away from private vendetta parties and mob violence. I recognize the English law system’s principles of habeas corpus, presumption of innocence, etc as […]
Because he refuses to hide the knife of the state, Trump is a heretic invader in the Holy of holies of our state religion. That also makes him the scapegoat supreme of our reigning religion of state power which feigns decorum and transcendence to mask the vulgarity and power lust inherent in every state action. […]
We don’t need to imitate Christ as some neat project to “save Western Civilization.” Western Civilization, as it has been conceived, is dead. It is in the process of nailing itself to its own self-righteous cross for its moral failings and decadence. We need to imitate Christ because it is the only way to be […]
Whenever you stand in between an outraged mob looking to demonize and destroy a singular target with righteous zeal, you will always be accused of being in league with their devil. Your space outside of the oneness they experience together in rage gives them eyes to see you as a potential enemy as well. What […]
Once you allow the collective to use violence against a single nonviolent act like opium use, you open the moral authority for them to use violence to punish other nonviolent acts…like speech they deem hateful, wages they deem too low, milk that is not pasteurized, lack of health insurance, etc. The moral principle of Jesus-imitating […]
My argument for Christian based law system is two step: 1. Only moral use for prison is violent theft, fraud, child abuse (includes selling minors drugs btw), assault, rape, murder or attempts thereof. All other acts are nonviolent and should be dealt with a whole of host of nonviolent and creative social solutions and actions. […]
Religion is never about metaphysics. It’s about the ecstatic unity of scapegoating: of casting one’s guilt and resentment onto a common enemy as part of a clique. Jesus came to end this religion.