Saint Peter as 'Sympresbyteros': Mimetic Desire, Discipleship, and Education

Aristotle considered μίμησις/mimēsis (“imitation”) to be innate in humanity from childhood, pedagogical in nature, and that humans are the most mimetic species (Poet. 4.5–8). This essay investigates the relationship between Christian discipleship and education through the lens of René Girard’s “mime...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Lamb, Gregory E. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Sage Publications [2018]
In: Christian education journal
Year: 2018, Volume: 15, Issue: 2, Pages: 189-207
IxTheo Classification:HC New Testament
NBE Anthropology
RB Church office; congregation
RF Christian education; catechetics
VA Philosophy
Further subjects:B pastoral modeling
B René Girard
B Mimesis
B mimetic desire
B discipleship and education
B Christian parenting
B 1 Peter 5
B shepherding
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
Description
Summary:Aristotle considered μίμησις/mimēsis (“imitation”) to be innate in humanity from childhood, pedagogical in nature, and that humans are the most mimetic species (Poet. 4.5–8). This essay investigates the relationship between Christian discipleship and education through the lens of René Girard’s “mimetic desire,” and how 1 Pet 5:1–5 (especially the hapax legomenon συμπρεσβύτερος/sympresbyteros) can be informed by this pedagogical concept. Going beyond mere mimēsis and the imitation of surface-level actions, “mimetic desire” explores how modeled behaviors and desires – whether positive or negative – affect the desires and motivations of others. This is important for ministry as pastors/Christian educators should faithfully model the gospel externally and internally, so their congregants/students may learn to live as good citizens worthy of the gospel of Christ (Phil 1:27).
ISSN:2378-525X
Contains:Enthalten in: Christian education journal
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1177/0739891318779842