A Political Theology of the Empty Tomb: Christianity and the Return of the Sacred

Author: Farneti, Roberto

Source: Theoria, Volume 55, Number 116, August 2008 , pp. 22-44(23)

Publisher: Berghahn Journals

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Abstract:

This article argues a case against the theory of the sacred put forward by the French anthropologist René Girard. In particular, Girard seems to have obliterated one of the tenets of Christian theology, namely, the doctrine of Christ's ascension, in accord with his critical reading of Paul's letter to the Hebrews, which contains a rare emphasis on Christ's departure from the world. This article adopts a 'neo-Hobbesian' perspective in understanding the return of the sacred and fosters a 'political theology of the empty tomb', where the doctrine of Christ's ascension is called upon to again play a major theological role as a workable antidote to the contemporary resurgence of the sacred.

Keywords: SACRALIZATION; RENE GIRARD; SECULARIZATION; HOBBES; MIMETIC THEORY

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.3167/th.2008.5511603

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