Mimetic Theory as a Method for Understanding Cultures and Religions
| When: | Th 12-06-2025 at 15:30 |
| Where: | Courtroom of the Faculty of Religion, Culture and Society (Oude Boteringestraat 38, Groningen), or online: |
| Link: | https://frp-smart.newrow.com/#/room/fz8ylpe |
Prof. Jorge Márquez Muñoz will give a hybrid public lecture in the Courtroom of Faculty of Religion, Culture and Society.
The lecture is entitled Mimetic Theory as a Method for Understanding Cultures and Religions
Mimetic Theory, originally developed by René Girard, postulates that the great contemporary religions have a dual potential. On the one hand, they can be useful for understanding others, resolving conflicts, tolerating differences, and promoting peaceful coexistence. However, such religions also have a destructive potential.
Mimetic Theory explains this dual potential through a general set of concepts about how societies control or are controlled by violence. The main concepts are: mimetic desire, mediator, sacrifice, externalization of violence, double bind, myth, misunderstanding, scapegoat mechanism, false science of scapegoating, revelation, demystification, ideology, katéchon, and self-control.
The lecture will review how the way these concepts are articulated explains the role—positive or negative—of religion.
The lecture is hosted by the Erasmus Mundus Master Programme Religious Diversity in a Globalised World (ReD Global).
Lecturer: Professor Jorge Márquez Muñuz, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Faculty of Social Sciences.
The lecture is open to everyone.