René Girard and Raymund Schwager - (Violence, Desire, and the Sacred) by Scott Cowdell & Joel Hodge & Chris Fleming (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The brilliant and ground-breaking mimetic theory of the French-American theorist René Girard (1923-2015)has gained wide-ranging recognition, yet its development has received less attention. This volume presents the important correspondence-conducted in French and as yet unpublished, let alone translated into English-between Girard and his major theological interlocutor Raymund Schwager SJ (1935-2004). It presents the personal relationship between two great thinkers that led to the development of a significant break-through in the humanities. In particular it reveals the theological development of Girard's thought in dialogue with Schwager, who was concerned to assist Girard in areas where he had little expertise and had encountered major criticism, such as the theological application of sacrifice. These issues in particular had placed major barriers to Girard's acceptance in theological circles. These letters reveal how Girard, with Schwager's help, entered the mainstream of theological debate.

Review Quotes

A touching testimony of growing friendship, alert contemporary companionship, and of passionate theology. Hardly anything compares in current intellectual life.
Józef Niewiadomski, Professor for Dogmatic Theology at the Institute of Systematic Theology, University of Innsbruck, Austria

The edited and translated correspondence between René Girard and Raymund Schwager is a great gift to those engaged in the study of violence and religion-specifically relating to mimetic theory ... Several points in this book are of particular significance: the helpful timeline provided by the editors, the translator notes, and the themes discussed by the two correspondents ... [T]he editors and translators clearly viewed their work as a labor of love-and it shows.
Reading Religion, A Publication of the American Academy of Religion

The English translation of the recently published letters between Girard and Schwager represents an important and exciting resource for scholars of mimetic theory. The correspondence offers an insider's peek into many of the key developments in thought of both Girard and Schwager. ... These letters will serve to nuance the discussion about how mimetic theory fits into the (especially Catholic) theological conversation. ... Regarding production, the team effort at translating and editing the letters paid off. The editorial touch is just right, and the translators do the best possible job of preserving but making intelligible Girard's occasionally grammar-free sentences. The superb index will prove immensely helpful for those looking to track down comments about a particular figure or topic. The book is a winner and we can hope that a paperback will appear soon.
Violence and Religion

About the Author

Scott Cowdell is Associate Professor and Research Fellow in Public and Contextual Theology at Charles Sturt University, Australia, Canon Theologian of the Canberra-Goulburn Anglican Diocese, and Founding President of the Australian Girard Seminar.

Chris Fleming is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy and Anthropology at the University of Western Sydney, Australia. His is the author of Violence and Mimesis (2004) and is current Vice-President of the Australian Girard Seminar.

Joel Hodge is Lecturer in Systematic Theology at Australian Catholic University, Australia. He is the author of Resisting Violence and Victimisation: Christian Faith and Solidarity in East Timor (2012) and is current Treasurer and Secretary of the Australian Girard Seminar.

Mathias Moosbrugger is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Systemic Theology at the University of Innsbruck, Austria, where he serves as the coordinator of the research project "Raymund Schwager: Dramatic Theology."

Sheelah Treflé Hidden is a research associate with the Heythrop Institute: Religion and Society at the University of London, UK. She is the editor of Jewish, Christian, and Islamic Mystical Perspectives on the Love of God (2014).