I See Satan Fall Like Lightning by Rene Girard

Hello all! We will meet online for a discussion of I See Satan Fall Like Lightning by Rene Girard. (Please read all of it, prior to the meeting.)

In "I See Satan Fall Like Lightning" (2001) René Girard offers a thought-provoking exploration of human violence, desire, and the forces that drive them. Using his groundbreaking mimetic theory, Girard examines how our desires are often shaped by others, leading to competition, conflict, and societal upheaval. By analyzing cultural and historical patterns of violence, the book uncovers the hidden mechanisms that perpetuate destructive behaviors and social tensions. Girard's insights challenge readers to rethink the roots of conflict, the dynamics of human interaction, and the potential for breaking these cycles.

Girard holds up the gospels as a mirror to reflect our broken humanity and, in the same frame, they reveal the new reality that can make us whole. Like Simone Weil, Girard looks at the Bible as a map of human behavior, and sees Jesus Christ as its compass, pointing us in the right direction regardless of where we start. The title echoes Jesus' words (Luke 10:18): I saw Satan falling like lightning from heaven. Girard persuades the reader that even as our world grows increasingly violent the power of the Christ is so great that the evils of scapegoating and sacrifice are being defeated. A new community, God's nonviolent kingdom, is being realized even now.

You can get the book in paperback or kindle here:
https://www.amazon.com/See-Satan-Fall-Like-Lightning/dp/1570753199

All are welcome!