René Girard on Peter's Denial
"The Only Way To Show That You Are Part Of A Crowd Is To Join In Scapegoating"
I find this clip very moving. I think I have watched it three times. It’s his era. We’re living in a Girard-mapped world.
How imitative (mimetic) and reciprocal we are. Mimesis—the act of resembling.
How much have we seen this in our “health freedom communities,” in recent years? When one figure is turned on, the hostility explodes quickly, spreads “virally” and people seem to believe they are having their own unique experience of condemnation/scorn/distrust. Likely they’re just having a Girard “crowd” experience, wanting to diffuse tension, wanting to become safe by being accepted by the crowd.
Like even, as Girard describes, befell Peter.
*Girard was a Roman Catholic.
Thank you for the Christian way of meditating and this clip, it is blows some fresh air through the mind and heart, and shows you that the Christ in you kept you and many others from harm and on another path than the one where you are looking at someone else's behind which is what you do when you follow the crowd. The sheep walk behind each other looking at each other's bum and once in France I saw a car come from behind and took the last two sheep from the herd and put them in the car, so it's not only that following can lead to walking of the cliff with the one's in front but you have to always be vigilant and pray for God to have your back as well and at the same time walk in faith and look forward to meeting your maker, Mr. Girard is very inspirational in the way he describes the story and what scapegoating is and does, Saludos, Bishop Richard Williamson has interesting presentations on Catholicism as well, your pieces inspire, kind regards.
I have a slightly different perspective I suppose : the denial by Peter is well documented in Matthew 26 versus 69 -74. It demonstrates his humanity for which he demonstrated great remorse, and wept bitterly. However, Christ told him this would happen.
Furthermore, in the same book of Matthew, chapter 26 (same chapter )go and read versus 39 -44.
Christ was the immaculately conceived son of God and yet he was also human. Obviously he was God incarnate. These verses demonstrate his humanity because as you read in these three verses, Christ, prayed to God three times "let this cup pass from me." in other words, God must I go through with this crucifixion ;He was praying to God at the time, but he knew the answer, and he followed with "thy will be done." To me the power of these three verses overwhelms me because it demonstrates to me that Christ was indeed, God incarnate. He was human and did not want to die, but knew that it was God's will, that the unblemished Lamb of God, who was without sin, had to suffer and die for the sins of mankind.
All I can say in very simplistic words is praise God, and thank you, Lord Jesus, my Lord and Savior 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️❤️❤️