Rene Girard and Raymund Schwager ─ Correspondence 1974-1991

The brilliant and ground-breaking mimetic theory of the French-American theorist René Girard has gained wide-ranging recognition, yet its development has received less attention. This volume presents the important correspondence-conducted in French and as yet unpublished, let alone translated into English--between Girard and his major theological interlocutor Raymund Schwager SJ (1935-2004). It presents the personal relationship between two great thinkers that led to the development of a significant break-through in the humanities. In particular it reveals the theological development of Girard's thought in dialogue with Schwager, who was concerned to assist Girard in areas where he had little expertise and had encountered major criticism, such as the theological application of sacrifice. These issues in particular had placed major barriers to Girard's acceptance in theological circles. These letters reveal how Girard, with Schwager's help, entered the mainstream of theological debate.

Scott Cowdell is Associate Professor and Research Fellow in Public and Contextual Theology at Charles Sturt University, Australia, Canon Theologian of the Canberra-Goulburn Anglican Diocese, and Founding President of the Australian Girard Seminar.

Chris Fleming is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy and Anthropology at the University of Western Sydney, Australia. His is the author ofViolence and Mimesis (2004) and is current Vice-President of the Australian Girard Seminar.

Joel Hodge is Lecturer in Systematic Theology at Australian Catholic University, Australia. He is the author of Resisting Violence and Victimisation: Christian Faith and Solidarity in East Timor (2012) and is current Treasurer and Secretary of the Australian Girard Seminar.

Mathias Moosbrugger is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Systemic Theology at the University of Innsbruck, Austria, where he serves as the coordinator of the research project "Raymund Schwager: Dramatic Theology."

Sheelah Trefle Hidden is a research associate with the Heythrop Institute: Religion and Society at the University of London, UK. She is the editor ofJewish, Christian, and Islamic Mystical Perspectives on the Love of God (2014).