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by Fr Elias Carr (Author), Luke Burgis (Foreword by)
The Catholic anthropologist René Girard (1923-2015) has emerged as one of the most important thinkers of the past century. His sweeping mimetic theory changed the landscape of both the social sciences and Christian theology. And with the rise of social media, political polarization, and globalized conflict, Girard's ideas have only proven increasingly prophetic with every passing year.
But where to begin with this "new Darwin of the human sciences"? His massive body of work remains daunting and disorienting, and secondary literature either academic in tone or limited in scope. General readers--if Girard shows up on their radar at all--face a high barrier of entry to understanding his theory and applying it to daily life. I Came to Cast Fire offers a timely solution: a comprehensive but accessible introduction to the thought of René Girard. In short and digestible chapters, Fr. Elias Carr takes readers through the basics of mimetic theory and how it plays out through history--from the violent origins of religion and culture to the radical revelation that unfolds in Christ--weaving in compelling personal anecdotes along the way. The perfect first step for those new to Girard, I Came to Cast Fire will not only inspire readers to see the world in a new light--the fire of the Paraclete proclaiming the innocence of the victim--but more importantly, to enter into it.Author Biography
Fr. Elias Carr is a Canon Regular of Saint Augustine of Stift Klosterneuburg, Austria. He co-founded the Canonry of Saint Leopold in 2011 in Glen Cove, New York, and now serves as the Kämmerer of Klosterneuburg. He is also the pastor of the parish of Weidling. He defended his dissertation on the life and early works of Raymund Schwager, SJ, a friend and collaborator of René Girard, at the John Paul II Pontifical University in Krakow, Poland, in June 2022.
