Loving Mimesis and the Theology of Imago Dei: The Journey from Proto-Subject to Subjectivity
René Girard's mimetic theory suggests that humans imitate not just behaviour but desire. Girard highlighted this mechanism's negative effects, such as conflict, violence, and scapegoating, but acknowledged that it can also lead to reconciliation and love. This less-explored positive potent...
| Authors: | ; |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2025
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| In: |
Heythrop journal
Year: 2025, Volume: 66, Issue: 5, Pages: 431-448 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | René Girard's mimetic theory suggests that humans imitate not just behaviour but desire. Girard highlighted this mechanism's negative effects, such as conflict, violence, and scapegoating, but acknowledged that it can also lead to reconciliation and love. This less-explored positive potential has inspired several researchers, including Rebecca Adams, who introduced the concept of loving mimesis. Adams's work builds on Girard's theory, proposing that love can emerge when the model directs its desire towards the subjectivity of the imitating subject rather than objectifying them and starting a conflict with them. This paper critically examines Adams's interpretation, questioning her assumption that the model can entirely give up objectification and affirm the imitating subject's identity. The paper explores whether the model can fully bear the responsibility for the imitating subject's desire for subjectivity and argues that such a dynamic is only possible within Christianity. The analysis will compare Girard's mimetic theory with Adams's concept of loving mimesis and propose extending Adams's theory through the theology of imago Dei, where participants in the mimetic process are seen as subjects in mutual relationships, ultimately relating to God as the proto-subject. |
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| ISSN: | 1468-2265 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Heythrop journal
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1111/heyj.14452 |
