Discover the hidden force behind human conflict—and the path to peace
Love. War. Envy. Violence. Where do these come from?
There’s a force at work in human nature. It’s behind us, before us, around us. From youth to old age, it animates our thoughts and directs our actions. It shapes every person, every people, every society, every culture. It’s been with us from the beginning of human civilization. It could also be the end of human civilization. But we couldn’t be human without it.
This book uncovers how violence stems from our desires. It explores why we compete, envy, and sometimes escalate conflicts into war. From wanting material things such as cars or prestigious jobs to seeking power or influence, desire can often lead to violence.
The book shows how this plays out in major historical events such as 9/11 and the two World Wars. Drawing from literature, pop culture, psychology, mythology, and religion, it explains how desire is always mimetic or imitative. We desire what another person wants.
While mimetic desire can be a constructive mechanism, it is also capable of creating violent mechanisms, such as the scapegoat mechanism, which we have seen throughout history. In looking at Jesus Christ’s passion and resurrection, we see how he uncovered the scapegoat mechanism and, along with his teachings, offered a viable path to peace and an end to violence.
Excerpt from the book
“At this point you may be thinking that scapegoating represents a tragic flaw in the human species, the root cause for injustice and the most unspeakable crimes committed against our fellow human beings. And so it is—but it must also be emphasized that, for all the bloodshed it has unleashed, Girard believes the scapegoat mechanism has also been the primary means of averting the complete and total annihilation of humanity.”
“John Ebrahimian’s introduction to mimetic theory is outstanding for its warm, lively, conversational tone and for its memorable, illustrative examples. Reading it, one is easily drawn into an atmosphere that recalls Ebrahimian’s own life-changing talks with René Girard on topics that affect us all: love, desire, envy, violence, redemption. Highly recommended.”
—Ann W. Astell, John Cardinal O’Hara Professor of Theology, University of Notre Dame
John Babak Ebrahimian
From René Girard’s Student to Your Guide
John Babak Ebrahimian studied directly under René Girard at Stanford University, serving as his teaching assistant and learning mimetic theory from its founder. This book bridges decades of scholarly insight with accessible explanations for modern readers.
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