We begin this second message in this series with the same introduction as the first for it lays out our purpose in sharing our thoughts of our precious Jesus as the "scapegoat." We are backtracking a bit with this proceeding message, as we look at the dynamics which bring about a need for a scapegoat. I pray you will find this writing enlightening and when meshed with our first message you might begin to see the steps we are building. Lord willing we will finally cap this series by revealing Christ's Sacrificial Atonement as few know of it.If you would like you can read our first message of this series before starting this one, or even vice versa. The link to our opening message:
http://jack-sonshine.blogspot.com/2009/04/economics-of-son-embracing-jesus-as.html
INTRODUCTION
Is there anything more beneficial in our walk, than to grow in our comprehension of the price Jesus paid at Calvary. I think not. So I am excited to share two or three blogs that have been rolling around in me for some months. They do have to do with the Cross of Christ, and in particular Jesus as the world's scapegoat. I pray you will come to love Him even more so, as you see and understand Jesus, as an innocent outcast bearing all of man's angst, abuse and sin. What an amazing God we serve and what a precious gift we find in His Son.
MIMETIC RIVALRY
Two children are playing peaceably in the sand box. One of the children notices the shiny red truck set against the corner. He crawls to retrieve the just noticed object. The second child sees the first child retrieve the red truck. The second child immediately breaks out with a desire for this same shiny truck. Next, all hell breaks lose in the sandbox.The red truck held no import until noticed and posseseed by one of the children.
The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal God had made. He spoke to the Woman, "do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?"
The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It's only the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'Don't eat from it."
The serpent tells the Woman, "God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God. Like Him you will know everything."
She took and ate the fruit ............
What are we looking at with regard to these two accounts? One is Biblical and takes us back to the very genesis of man and the other with the children, I dare say, takes place hundreds of times each and every day. Is this "action-reaction" common to all men? Is this an example of the nature man, in which he was created? I believe so, and there is a term used to capsulate such behaviour. The term is "mimetic desire" or even better said "mimetic rivalry" and this descriptive term is as old as Plato and Aristotle. "Mimetic" is the adjective taken from "mimesis" which is a philosophical term with a wide range of meaning. In this message I am are going to use the meaning of the terms in the following ways:
* mimesis = an imitation
* mimetic desire = humans copy their desires from other people
* mimetic rivalry = rivalry is formed when the same object is desired by two or more humans
All of human life is based around necessary acquisitions (food, water, shelter etc.) as well as unnecessary acquisitions. There is conflict that arises out of a core human trait that says, "you got it, I want it and you want it, I want it also." So it is with our previous accounts of the children, both wanting the red truck and Eve desiring what God has. Conflict occurs whenever one person sees another person possessing an object or attempting to acquire some object. Those around the holder of the object, will imitate and also begin to desire that object. They will even attempt to acquire the object themselves, by either hook or crook. "Imitation" is an aspect of behaviour that not only affects learning but also desire. And imitated desire (mimetic desire) is a cause of conflict. If any two men desire the same thing, which nevertheless both cannot enjoy, the two become enemies.
We, who are in the know, realize it is the serpent in each of us that taunts and tempts man in this way. Mimetic desire torments from infancy to old age and from the very first man to the last..This selfishness and this evil is born of the very vanity and frustration of which we are made. IT IS INGRAINED IN MAN.
Creation was subjected to frustration but not by its own choice. The one who subjected it to frustration did so in the hope. (Rom 8:20 God's Word Trans.)
For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, (Rom 8;20 KJV)
THE MOB OVERTAKES THE INDIVIDUAL
So we have come to see that "mimetic desire" is part of the inherent nature of man. It is a drive that is provoked and defined by the pull of the actions and intentions of the others as they acquire goods. THIS DRIVING DESIRE IS NASTY ....... IT IS EVEN MORE THAN NASTY WHEN MANIFEST IN A GROUP.
Mimetic desire or mimetic rivalry also takes place in the dynamics of the group or even a nation. With hand to open mouth, we witness over and over in history how horrific the results of such a dynamic. We can view in history, where large communities, that would normally be filled with rational and tolerant human beings are transformed into a murderous and irrational people capable of the most horrendous of atrocities. Truly the student of history or even the reader of the daily newspaper looks on such activity aghast with bewilderment and disgust. How is it possible for humans to treat each other so viciously?
Here we can point to an enlarged "mimesis", where the collective enters into the control of the individual. The energizing group overrides the normal emotions, the rationale and the activities of the individual. Strong collective feelings begin to move humans and they begin to act more like sheep following the newly rationalized and accepted behavior. Inner restraints, convictions and morality are thrown to the wind and extremely untypical human actions are excused if not embraced. The humane become the inhumane and the atmosphere about the mob is filled with tension.
........ enter the scapegoat
To be continued,
Jack
(sources: Wikipedia, RobertBarron,
René Girard, The Message)
