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Sacrifice and Redemption: a New Approach from Mimetic Theory

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Sacrifice and Redemption: a New Approach from Mimetic Theory Marquette University e-Publications@Marquette Dissertations, Theses, and Professional Dissertations (1934 -) Projects Sacrifice and Redemption: A New Approach From Mimetic Theory Nicholas Gregory Roumas Marquette University Follow this and additional works at: https://epublications.marquette.edu/dissertations_mu Part of the Psychology Commons Recommended Citation Roumas, Nicholas Gregory, "Sacrifice and Redemption: A New Approach From Mimetic Theory" (2021). Dissertations (1934 -). 1074. https://epublications.marquette.edu/dissertations_mu/1074 SACRIFICE AND REDEMPTION: A NEW APPROACH FROM MIMETIC THEORY by Nicholas G. Roumas, B.S., M.A. A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School, Marquette University, in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Milwaukee, Wisconsin May 2021 © 2021, Nicholas Roumas For Robert Doran, S. J. ABSTRACT SACRIFICE AND REDEMPTION: A NEW APPROACH FROM MIMETIC THEORY Nicholas G. Roumas, B.S., M.A. Marquette University, 2021 What is the meaning of theories of redemption, and what use do they have? This dissertation answers these questions from the vantage point of two ideas from Girardian Mimetic Theory: the hypothesis that human relationality is rooted in triangular structures of desire, and the hypothesis that the sacrificial death of Christ is what Girard calls a scapegoating event. For Girard, ritual sacrifice is a repetition of an original scapegoating event on which social cohesion depends. With the death of Christ, scapegoating has been denuded and sacrifice rendered inoperable, bringing humanity into a novel historical situation. Using Girard’s early seminal texts alongside crucial developments in his later work, I develop the thesis that the redemptive work is structurally a sacrificial act, but aimed at the transcending of sacrifice and the transformation of the generative potential of scapegoating; correspondingly with this objective redemptive work, believers in Christ undergo a conversion that consists in their re-orientation as subjects within a structure of transcendence determined by this sacrificial generativity. This thesis represents a significantly more systematic appraisal of the positive theological utility of sacrifice than is found in Girard’s work. To bolster my thesis, I reread key biblical and classical theological sources. The biblical foundation narratives and interplay of textual sources witness to a subtle subversion of scapegoating and sacrifice while still relying on sacrifice as an ordering principle. I then examine the paradigmatic theories of redemption of Peter Abelard, Anselm, and Gregory of Nyssa. Each of these theories exhibits the same sacrificial logic, despite the different ways they configure redemption. I conclude that theories of redemption give us ways to map the reality brought about by the process of redemption. They facilitate the believer, whose triangular relationality has been re-oriented toward the transcendent God, in navigating the new situation in which sacrifice has been transformed. i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Nicholas G. Roumas A number of people are to be earnestly thanked for their involvement in and contributions to the writing of this dissertation. Robert Doran, S. J., who directed the bulk of the dissertation, was wholeheartedly encouraging about the project, and I feel a very fortunate dissertator to have had him. The kernel of the dissertation’s thesis, as well as my decision to pursue Girard, are both owed to his seminar. Fr. Doran unfortunately passed away prior to the defense. Marcus Plested generously assumed the directorial role following Fr. Doran’s passing. I am exceedingly grateful to have dissertated under both of these formidable scholars. I would like to thank Dr. Plested, who, in addition to directing, provided invaluable guidance in the Patristic literature, including pointing me in the direction of Gregory of Nyssa. I would also like to thank my readers, Danielle Nussberger, Ryan Duns, S. J., and Conor Kelly, for their discussion, encouragement, and critiques. Fr. Duns provided important discussion on Girard and direction in the literature on him. Andrei Orlov’s seminar on ancient Jewish apocalyptic texts, which led to several important discussions with my colleague David Burnett, not only provided me the knowledge base to work out the complex thesis of Chapter 4, but was instrumental in developing my method of reading biblical texts. My introduction to liberation theology through John Thiede, S. J., was another decisive factor in shaping the outlook and motive of this dissertation. We have a fundamental agreement that theology can be very orthodox and very radical at the same time. Bruce Beck provided clarifying discussion on the work of his own former teacher, Jon D. Levenson, as well as assistance with resources. I would be remiss not to mention Emmanuel Clapsis, my mentor at HCHC, who made the trajectory of my thought possible. His advice and attitudes rang in my ears throughout the writing process. My wife, Sarah, and I have managed to support each other through doctoral programs so efficiently that we are both on our way to finishing our dissertations as I write this. Thank you. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .............................................................................................................................. i LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................................................ iv INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 1 § 1. Aims, Scope, and Procedure of the Investigation ............................................................................. 14 § 2. Methodological Remarks ................................................................................................................... 18 § 3. Plan of Work ..................................................................................................................................... 21 CHAPTER 1. SALVATION AND TRANSCENDENCE ....................................................................... 24 § 4. Salvation, Soteriology, and the Fundamental Conditions of Conversion ......................................... 25 § 5. Two Aspects of Divine Transcendence; Transcendence and Orientation ........................................ 34 § 6. Historical Snapshot of Some Main Ideas of Divine Transcendence; Characterization of the Transcendence-Structure in Light of These; Spatial and Temporal Representations of the Transcendence-Structure ........................................................................................................................ 44 CHAPTER 2. REDEMPTION AS SACRIFICIAL EXCHANGE ........................................................... 58 § 7. Redemption in the Cosmic Work of Salvation .................................................................................. 60 § 8. Sacrifice and the «καταβολὴ κόσμου» ........................................................................................... 65 § 9. Sacrifice and Redemption ................................................................................................................. 76 CHAPTER 3. THE GENESIS OF STRUCTURE AND THE END OF THE AGE ............................... 87 § 10. Girard’s Surrogate Victim Mechanism .......................................................................................... 92 § 11. The Generation of Structure and the Transcendence of Place ...................................................... 102 iii § 12. The Possibilities for the Subversion of the Generative Process ..................................................... 114 § 13. The Transcendence of Time .......................................................................................................... 132 CHAPTER 4. THE REDEMPTIVE DIVISION AND EXCHANGE IN SALVATION HISTORY ... 143 § 14. The Divine Call at Work Within the Sacrificial System ............................................................... 145 § 15. The Mimetic Exchange and the Mechanism of Redemption ......................................................... 154 § 16. The Biblical History and the Sacrificial Dialectic ......................................................................... 162 § 17. The Sacrificial Dialectic in the Temple Ideologies of P and the D-work ....................................... 175 § 18. The Sacrificial Cult in the ideologies of P and the D-work ........................................................... 181 § 19. Patterns of Sacrificial Division and Exchange in the Biblical History of the Creative and Redemptive Work: A Girardian Salvation History ............................................................................... 188 § 20. Gift and Economy: The Necessity and Contingency of the Redemptive Exchange ...................... 213 CHAPTER 5. THE TRANSCENDENCE-STRUCTURE, THE SACRIFICIAL EXCHANGE, AND CHRISTIAN PARADIGMS OF REDEMPTION ................................................................................... 217 § 21. Peter Abelard: Commentary on Romans .................................................................................. 221 § 22. Anselm: Meditation on Human Redemption .......................................................................... 241 § 23. Gregory of Nyssa: The Fishhook ..................................................................................................
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