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Archaeology & Anthropology 2018 Global Journal of Research and Review
ISSN: 2393-8854 Page 35
October 01-02, 2018
London, UK
1 st Edition of international Conference on
Archaeology and
Anthropology
In my presentation, I will discuss Rene Girard’s theory of mimesis
and the scapegoating function of Christianity. In Girard’s theory
of religion and culture, he offers what he calls to be the science
of humanity that can answer the questions surrounding the
origins of culture and religion. The components that comprise
of these theories are mimetic desire and violence, the second
being the scapegoat, the third is religious awe, and finally the
Bible and the revelation of Jesus Christ. Girard differentiates
mimetic desire with imitation in that imitation is copying while
mimetic desire functions as a triangle with subject, object, and
mediator. Furthermore, violence is added because mimetic desire
unlike imitation later leads to rivalry over object desire. Thus, the
mediator becomes both the model and obstacle and mimetic
desire intensifies rivalries, which Girard believes early modern
societies experienced paroxym. This explains the situation in
which human beings revert to the Freudian death instinct, which
eventually leads to a single victim or outsider on the margins,
whom the community thrusts their bane upon and blames for the
problems apparent in all members of the community (otherwise
knownas thescapegoat.) After thescapegoat hasbeensacrificed,
the community begins to experience greater peace and deifies
the scapegoat as a god. The act of killing the scapegoat becomes
holy and is at the center of Christ’s crucification on the cross
and Christian-Judeo culture. In my presentation, I will discuss
the importance of Girard’s theory of the scapegoat mechanism
on Christianity today and the socio-political implications it has
had on marginalized groups today. I will also discuss how the
scapegoating function of Christianity completes the need for
atonement of the global community’s sin by both canceling the
bane and reviving the peace needed for the community to thrive.
Keywords: Mimetic Desire, Scapegoat, Religious History,
Anthropology
Recent Publications
1. Oxford Symposium on Religious Studies at the
University Church of St. Mary “Unshakable Faith Amidst
the Storm: The Role of Black Intellectualism and
Religious Leadership in the Formation of the Civil Rights
Movement”
2. The Many Faces of War: An interdisciplinary symposium
on the experience and impact of war throughout history
“Auxiliary Recruits: The Emergence of Women inModern
Warfare during World War I”
3. The 19th Annual Graduate Conference History
Conference at the University of Memphis “Unshakable
Faith Amidst the Storm: The Role of Black Intellectualism
and Religious Leadership in the Formation of the Civil
Rights Movement”
4. The Ninth International Conference on Religion and
Spirituality in Society at the University of Granada
“Mimesis: The Scapegoating Function of Christianity”
Biography
Ogechi Ibeanusi has completed her BA in history at the age of 22 years from
the University of Southern California. She is the career awareness program
coordinator of Beacon Aptos Middle School CYCSF program, a premier mid-
dle school college and career service organization. She will present up to five
academic presentations in the following year.
Ogechi Ibeanusi
University of Southern California, USA
Ogechi Ibeanusi, Glob J Res Rev 2018, Volume 5
DOI: 10.21767/2393-8854-C1-003
Mimesis: The Scapegoating Function of Christianity