Dear Wheaton College Administration, On this day, the Feast of the Epiphany, the day of the manifestation of the True God to the whole world, I ask that you come to an epiphany of compassion, understanding and love, and fully reinstate Dr. Larycia Hawkins. Today we celebrate the journey of those from outside of the Jewish tradition who were guided by wonder and love stirring in their hearts to seek God’s glory. When we consider the journey of the wise... Read more
In this episode, Lindsey Paris-Lopez and Adam Ericksen discuss the season of Epiphany. Epiphany means “manifestation” and is the season after Christianity that celebrates the manifestation of the Christ child to the Magi. MP3 Video Show Notes Epiphany is a journey through fear that leads us to hope. The Magi brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Myrrh is especially interesting because it was used in burial. It’s a kind of “death oil.” (Thank you Lindsey!) So, at the... Read more
Iran and Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties yesterday after a weekend of escalating violence. On Saturday, Saudi Arabia executed a popular Shiite cleric named Nimr al-Nimr, who angered the Saudi Royal Family by calling for their removal in 2011. The Saudi Royal Family claims that the execution was an act of national defense, because it accuses Iran of creating “terrorist cells” in Saudi Arabia. In response to the execution, Iran requested that the Saudi ambassador condemn the execution. Saudi Arabia... Read more
Year C, Christmas 1 December 27th, 2015 Thomas L. Truby Colossians 3:12-17 (Common English Bible) The Peace of Christ: Context and Questions In year C the lectionary gets a little chaotic in the week after Christmas especially on a year when Christmas is on Friday. In those years Jesus is born on Friday and then turns twelve on Sunday when he is found in the Temple with missing parents. Then the following Sunday the Wise Men come for their traditional... Read more
How can we develop more peaceful communities? In the video below, I explain how Maria Montessori and the Biblical story offer practical ways for peace. The story of the Magi contrasts their desire to pay homage to the baby Jesus with King Herod’s fear of the baby Jesus. You don’t have to invoke God or theology to understand this story. The contrasts provides an example of two different ways to respond to Jesus and others in our lives: either as... Read more
This video is a part of the Maria Montessori Project, which aims to dramatize the life of Dr. Maria Montessori and draw connections between her work in child development and the mimetic theory of Dr. René Girard. As Christmas draws near, many parents are anticipating the day with a dose of anxiety mixed with joy. The pressure to recreate special Christmas magic for our own children is great. My daughter Emily and I want Christmas to be a joyful time for... Read more
The Advent season calls us to “prepare the way of the Lord” by “bearing fruit worthy of repentance.” I’ve been pondering the meaning of these words since the season began, but they have taken on a further dimension for me within the last week as the news surrounding Wheaton College has turned national attention to a recurring question that is at the heart of my vocational journey: “Do Christians and Muslims worship the same God?” A brief recap: Dr. Larycia... Read more
Pastors have a frequent question when they begin to discover mimetic theory. “That’s great. But how does it preach?” Reverends Laura and Tom Truby show that mimetic theory is a powerful tool that enables pastors to preach the Gospel in a way that is meaningful and refreshing to the modern world. Each Wednesday, Teaching Nonviolent Atonement will highlight Tom’s sermons as an example of preaching the Gospel through mimetic theory. In this sermon, Laura and Tom reflect upon Mary’s visit to... Read more
The mimetic theory community suffered a great loss last month. On November 4th, our teacher, mentor, and friend, René Girard, passed away at age 91. Rene would have turned 92 this week, on Christmas Day. As we celebrate his amazing life, we continue to mourn his death. One way I find to heal is to listen to the stories of those who knew René well. And so I invited three of his first students, Eric Gans, Andrew McKenna, and Sandor Goodhart to share... Read more
Introduction: From Fear to Freedom Fear is a terrible prison. Navigating the dark corridors of confusion and anxiety, searching for clarity and understanding and relief only to run into walls of self-doubt and torturous demons haunting your consciousness with the most terrifying “what ifs,” living in fear can be paralyzing, isolating, and self-diminishing. When the cause of such fear is anxiety about the nature or existence of God, it can be overwhelming, because the consequences it threatens are eternal. For... Read more
Teaching Nonviolent Atonement
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