Customer Reviews

Guided by the Faith of Christ: Seeking to Stop Violence and Scapegoating

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The French scholar René Girard argues that human culture is based on sacrifice as the way out of mimetic, or imitative, violence between rivals. Guided by the Faith of Christ: Seeking to Stop Violence and Scapegoating, by Stephen R. Kaufman, M.D., is an attempt to apply Giradian theory to produce a full-blown Christian theology. Kaufman's discussions include "Jesus as Teacher", "Forgiveness", "Christian Faith and Prophetic Witness", and "The New Testament and Sacrifice". In a final chapter the author uses Girardian theory to offer insights into contemporary issues, such as abortion, oppression of women, homosexuality, poverty, enviromentalism and animal issues.
I am impressed with this book. It is ambitious, rigorous, balanced. Though it is based on a wide range of scientific litterature, on topics such as Biblical theology, anthropological philosophy, and the psychology of violence, it is very accessible. I appreciate the gentle tone of Kaufman's writing, there are no exaggerations, no hype, as well as his skills at structuring and organizing the material. The book covers several themes, but the author talks about one thing at a time. Guided by the Faith of Christ is a tour de force.