Abstract
In the Global North, the notion of “sacrifice” is highly controversial in contemporary discussion. In recent years, the influential work of René Girard has succeeded in putting sacrifice back on the intellectual agenda, but his story of sacrifice has primarily emphasised the theme of violence. Today, many theologians consider sacrifice inherently problematic and some would like to do away with it altogether. In Africa, however, the notion is highly popular across a wide range of theological traditions. The work of three African theologians – John Ekem, a Ghanaian mother-tongue biblical scholar, Edison Kalengyo, a Ugandan inculturation theologian, and Mercy Oduyoye, a Ghanaian women’s theologian – challenge Girard’s theory in three important ways. First, they challenge his traditional typological approach with a dialogical typological one. Second, they challenge his focus on violence by highlighting multiple themes. Third, they challenge his lack of an ecclesial dimension with fresh ways of appropriating Jesus’ sacrifice today.
Highlights
In the Global North, the notion of “sacrifice” is highly controversial in contemporary discussion and contested across a wide range of academic fields, from biblical studies to philosophy, to anthropology, psychology and even evolutionary biology
The influential work of René Girard has succeeded in putting sacrifice back on the intellectual agenda, but his story of sacrifice has primarily emphasised the theme of violence
Is sacrifice essentially violent? And, since sacrifice is at the heart of many religious traditions, what are the implications for the core beliefs and practices of these traditions? what are the ramifications for human flourishing more generally, especially since religious traditions are growing rapidly? Some theologians defend a traditional concept of sacrifice, others attempt to spiritualise it in some way and still others argue that it should be renounced entirely.[1]
Summary
In the Global North, the notion of “sacrifice” is highly controversial in contemporary discussion and contested across a wide range of academic fields, from biblical studies to philosophy, to anthropology, psychology and even evolutionary biology. In this essay I explore how stories of sacrifice “from below” (the Global South) challenge those “at the top” (the Global North) by examining how discussions of sacrifice in contemporary African theology challenge Girard’s work. I examine the story of sacrifice in the work of the philosopher of culture, René Girard and suggest areas of his thought that could benefit from engagement with African theologians. In addition to being from the Global South, these stories of sacrifice are “from below” in the sense that they have been developed in the process of addressing pressing questions in African churches As such, their lived character and ecclesial situatedness provide an important counterbalance to Girard’s philosophical and abstracting discursiveness. They challenge his lack of an ecclesial dimension with fresh ways of appropriating Jesus’ sacrifice today
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