This collection of state of the art interpretations of the thought of René Girard follows on from the volume Violence, Desire, and the Sacred: Girard's Mimetic Theory Across the Disciplines (2012). The previous collection has been acclaimed for demonstrating and showcasing Girard's mimetic theory at its inter-disciplinary best by bringing together scholars who apply Girard's insights in different fields. This new volume builds on and extends the work of that earlier collection by moving into new areas such as psychology, politics, classical literature, national literature, and practical applications of Girard's theory in pastoral/spiritual care, peace-making and religious thought and practice.

ContributorsForewordPaul DumouchelIntroductionJoel Hodge, Scott Cowdell, and Chris FlemingMimesis, Violence, and the Sacred: An Overview of the Thought of René GirardChris FlemingPart 1: Politics1. Abolition or Transformation? The Political Implications of René Girard's Theory of SacrificeWolfgang Palaver 2. Sacrifice in the Democratic Age: Rivalry and Crisis in Recent Australian PoliticsJoel Hodge 3. Mimetic Theory and Hermeneutic CommunismPaolo Diego Bubbio 4. War on Terror: The Escalation to ExtremesSarah Drews Lucas 5. Scapegoating the Guilty: Girard and International Criminal LawNathan Kensey Part 2: Cultural and Textual Analysis6. The Scapegoating of Cheerleading and CheerleadersEmma A. Jane7. "Things Hidden": On Shame, Violence, and Concealment in AutobiographyRosamund Dalziell 8 "That False Paradise": Desire, Sacrifice, and the American Dream in Jeffrey Eugenides' The Virgin SuicidesCarly Osborn Part 3: Theology9. Hearing the Cry of the Poor: René Girard and St. Augustine on the PsalmsAnn W. Astell 10. Sacrifice, Pagan and ChristianRobert J. Daly SJ 11. Living Faithfully "Where Danger Threatens": Christian Discernment According to John Cassian and René GirardKevin LenehanPart 4: Psychology12. A Psychologist Venturing Across an Interdisciplinary Bridge to Mimetic Theory and Its ApplicationsMarie R. Joyce13. Internet Offenders as Girardian ScapegoatsBruce A. StevensPart 5: Applied Mimetic Theory14. A Girardian Reading of the Evagrian "Eight Kinds of Evil Thoughts"DraSko Dizdar 15. Forsaking Our Violent Ways: A Girardian Reflection on the Sermon on the Mount as a Path to a New Social OrderPeter Stork16. Girard's Interdividual Psychology Applied to Pastoral Leadership in ChurchesBruce Wilson 17. Ecclesial Roots of Clergy Sexual Abuse: A Girardian ReflectionScott Cowdell18. Practical Reflections on Nonviolent AtonementMichael HardinGlossary of Key Girardian TermsFurther ReadingIndex