Maura Junius described the mission of the newly established non-profit unRival Network whose mission is to provide “Hope in the Heart of Conflict.” The unRival Network will accompany peacebuilders to “inspire collaboration and overcome destructive rivalries.Īndrew McRae offered a fascinating reimagining of the mimetic triangle in his presentation “Loving from Love for Another: When Lynne Cox met Something Large and Wild” that may be accessed HERE. The Gathering engaged new perspectives on mimetic theory that offered hope the mimetic construct can forge a path towards healing and reconciliation. Julia Robinson Moore’s article, “The Frontier of Race in Mimetic Theory, American Lynchings and Racial Violence” noted the scarce attention Girardians’ have given to the intersection of race and violence, and explored mimetic theory within the context of the African American experience of lynching. Rebecca Adams and Paul Nuechterlein discussed the impact of Raymund Schwager’s idea on Girardian theory that human beings have a glimpse of God’s love before the fall of humanity. Anthony Bartlett led a discussion of his new book Anthony Bartlett “Signs of Change: The Bible’s Evolution of Divine Nonviolence” (2022) in which he reconciles biblical stories of a violent humanity with the narrative seam that reveals a nonviolent God. We continued to engage ideas about mimetic theory and non-violence.

The Conference provided an opportunity for renewal and restoration among the participants, anchored in the history of the Conference while looking towards the future of Theology and Peace. Participants attended in-person and via Zoom.

The Theology and Peace Gathering was held at the Scarritt Bennet Center in Nashville, Tennessee from November 14th through 17th, 2022.

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