Internet Resources
Anthropoetics. Eric Gans, a student of Girard’s who has significantly developed mimetic theory in his own directions (which he calls “Generative Anthropology”), has this UCLA-hosted site, including both an online journal, Anthropoetics, and online commentaries, Chronicles of Love and Resentment.
brianmclaren.net is the website of widely acclaimed speaker and author Brian McLaren, who many are calling the ‘Martin Luther of the Emergence Church.’ Brian participates with the Girardian community and frequently references Girard and Girardians in his blog.
COV&R Website. Colloquium on Violence & Religion. COV&R Object: “The COLLOQUIUM ON VIOLENCE AND RELIGION (COV&R) is an international association of scholars founded in 1990. It is dedicated to the exploration, criticism, and development of René Girard’s mimetic model of the relationship between violence and religion in the genesis and maintenance of culture.” (For full information on COV&R link to the COV&R website on the logo below.)
COV&R Conferences. COV&R has held an annual international conference since 1991. The current conference is posted at the COV&R site. Papers for recent conferences may be accessed at their websites; there is a complete listing of past events at the official COV&R website.
COV&R Listserve. Not generally a high-traffic list for discussion; used primarily to send information out to the COV&R membership. Subscribe at the Anthropoetics webpage.
Cornerstone Forum Website: The homepage of Gil Bailie‘s mission forum (formerly the Florilegia Institute). Gil has been a long-time, articulate teacher of mimetic theory, and he has a great passion for bringing it into the life of the church.
“Experimental Theology.” A blog by Richard Beck, author of Unclean and other books and a plenary speaker at the 2012 Theology & Peace Conference.
“Faith Meets World: Reflections on Faith in a Messed-up but Beautiful World.” Website/blog of Rob Grayson, English worship leader and musician.
Facebook provides a good medium for cyber-conversation. There are a growing number of Facebook pages for Girardian conversation, including: René Girard Changed My Life, René Girard, Teaching Nonviolent Atonement, Scapegoater’s Anonymous, Theology and Peace, Jesus the Forgiving Victim, The Raven Foundation, Preaching Peace.
Girardian Reflections on the Lectionary. (This site!) Paul Nuechterlein has been sending out weekly reflections on the lectionary texts from a Girardian perspective since October 1996. These reflections have been available at the website since 2001.
“Hope in Time.” The weblog page (ca. 2014) of Girardian theologian and author Tony Bartlett (first Contributing Theologian for Theology & Peace).
IDEAS-Girard. “The Scapegoat: René Girard’s Anthropology of Violence and Religion.” Website for a CBC radio show produced by David Cayley on the work of Girard. It aired March 5-9, 2001, now most easily available as podcasts at davidcayley.com. Podcast links: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5. There is also the transcript available as a pdf. Cayley also aired a follow-up to this series in March 2015, “On Violence and Religion,” which gives another excellent, updated introduction to Mimetic Theory: Part 1, Part 2.
“Imaginary Visions of True Peace.” Abbot Andrew Marr‘s Home Page has numerous helpful brief essays, Weblogs, and more, introducing Girard’s work.
Imitatio. Imitatio was conceived as a force to press forward the consequences of René Girard’s remarkable insights into human behavior and culture, with goals to: Pursue research and application of Mimetic Theory across the social sciences and critical areas of human behavior; support the education and development of the next generation of scholars leveraging Mimetic Theory; further the dissemination, translation and publication of key works incorporating Mimetic Theory.
James Alison Theology Website, is a wonderful resource into Alison’s work, with many links to online papers and book excerpts (some back to this site).
“Meeting Place” blogs by Pastor Russ Hewett of Meeting Place, “a Jesus-Centered Church in the Heart of Maine.”
“Mimetic Margins.” A blog by Erik Buys, author and teacher in Aalst, Belgium.
“Preaching Peace.” Hosted by Michael Hardin, this is another fine site for looking at the Sunday lectionary through the lens of mimetic theory. All the Gospel texts in the three-year lectionary have essays. The site has greatly expanded with their ministry to include numerous resources, including Michael’s books.
The Raven Foundation. Established in January 2007 by co-founders Keith and Suzanne Ross, the Raven Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to advance the awareness of Rene Girard’s insights into mimetic theory. The website features many educational resources using a variety of media, including a podcast on the weekly lectionary, “Jesus Unmasked.” Closely related is a website for Suzanne Ross’ book The Wicked Truth and the site for the James Alison adult education course Jesus the Forgiving Victim.
“The Rebel God.” The website of Derek Flood, author of recent outstanding books Healing the Gospel (2012) and Disarming Scripture (2014).
“The Text This Week.” Hosted by Jenee Woodard, this is the most comprehensive lectionary study site on the Internet — an amazing clearing house of links to resources.
Theology and Peace. Website for the organization whose mission is: An emerging movement seeking the transformation of theological practice through the application of mimetic theory. It’s annual conference is the finest continuing education opportunity for Christian practitioners. Theology and Peace also has a blog page maintained by its Contributing Theologian (currently, Paul Nuechterlein).
“Yin and Yanglican,” the webpage / blog of Rev. Daniel DeForest London.
Journals / Bulletins / Essays
Alison, James. “Looking Elsewhere.” The Other Side, Vol. 38, No. 3 (May-June 2002), pages 16-19, 38. Originally, “Contemplation in a world of violence: Girard, Merton, Tolle” (link to web version), a talk prepared for a day retreat with Sebastian Moore, organized by the Thomas Merton Society, held at Downside Abbey, Bath, November 3, 2001. This is my favorite piece on the terrible day of September 11, 2001, and its aftermath, focusing more on our response than on what the terrorists did.
Bailie, Gil. “René Girard’s Contribution to the Church of the 21st Century.” Communio, Vol. XXVI, No. 1 (Spring 1999), pp. 134-153. An excellent introduction to Girard’s work. The issue also contains a response to Bailie by Consulting Editor Roch Kereszty and Bailie’s response to him, pp. 212-224. An online version of this essay has been posted in two parts: Part 1, “Violence and the Sacred,” and Part 2, “The Mystery of Sin.”
The Bulletin of the Colloquium on Violence & Religion. Published bi-annually (March and October): No. 1, October, 1991-. An international group has been formed to further Girard’s ideas, called the Colloquium on Violence and Religion (or “COV&R”); this is its bulletin. To join COV&R and/or to receive its bulletin or journal, write to COV&R, 10616 Mellow Meadows, #27A, Austin, Texas 78750. Available online (see below).
Contagion: Journal of Violence, Mimesis, and Culture. Published annually: Volume I, Spring 1994 – Vol. 15/16, 2008-09. Published essays, primarily from the annual COV&R conferences.
Dialog: A Journal of Theology. Fall 1993 Issue (Vol. 32, No. 4): “Paul and Luther: A Debate over Sacred Violence,” primarily an issue in conversation around Hamerton-Kelly’s book Sacred Violence; includes essays by Hamerton-Kelly and Girard.
Girard, René. “Are the Gospels Mythical?” First Things, April 1996. An essay by Girard that provides a good introduction to his work. Also available online.
Girard, René. “On War and Apocalypse.” First Things, Aug/Sept 2009. An essay by Girard based on Battling to the End (Achever Clausewitz). Also available online.
Heim, S. Mark. “Visible Victim: Christ’s death to end sacrifice.” The Christian Century, March 14, 2001, Vol. 118, No. 9, pp.19-23. This second part of a two-part series offers Girard’s anthropology as a helpful answer to modern questions about the cross of Christ and atonement theory, questions raised in the first part of the series “Christ Crucified: Why does Jesus’ death matter?” (The Christian Century, March 7, 2001, Vol. 118, No. 8, pp.12-17). Link to an online version (subscription required): Part 1, on atonement theories in general; Part 2, on Girard’s anthropology as a key to a more plausible atonement theory. There are versions available online without subscription: Part 1, Part 2.
McDonald, Brian. “Violence & the Lamb Slain: An Interview with René Girard.” Touchstone: A Journal of Mere Christianity, December, 2003, Vol. 16, Issue 10. One of the best brief introductions to Girard that I’ve come across. Also available online.
McKenna, Andrew. “Uncanny Christianity: René Girard’s Mimetic Theory.” In Divine Aporia: Postmodern Conversations about the Other (Lewisburg: Bucknell University Press, 2000), edited by John C. Hawley, pages 84-96.
Nessan, Craig L. “Violence and Atonement,” Dialog: A Journal of Theology, Vol. 35, No. 1 (Winter 1996), pages 26-34.
Nuechterlein, Paul J. “Holy Communion: Altar Sacrament for Making a Sacrificial Sin Offering, or Table Sacrament for Nourishing a Life of Service?” Contagion, Vol. 3 (Spring 1996), pages 201-221.
Nuechterlein, Paul J. “The Work of René Girard as a New Key to Biblical Hermeneutics.” Currents in Theology and Mission, June 1999, pages 196-209.
Renascence: Essays on Values in Literature, Vol. LII, No. 1 (Fall 1999): “Critical Perspectives on René Girard.” Published by Marquette University; edited by Ed Block, Jr. An issue devoted to Girard’s work with essays by: René Girard, George Hardin Brown, Curtis Gruenler, Peter Goldman, Thad Bower, Martin Kevorkian.
