René Girard highlighted one of the greatest scenes in the Gospel during an interview. He mentioned this in a conversation with Stephen Berry. This scene is from literature. It is the denial by Peter.
This is because of Peter symbol for all people. One cannot resist the “mimetic contagion,” said Girard. Peter’s Denial is therefore the best seen in the gospel.
If you are in a crowd, you are literally contaminated by the crowd in a crowd.
The Gospel, from an anthropological perspective, reveals one of its insights. It demonstrates the omnipotence of the crowd.
And that only Jesus can conquer the power of the public.
Girard notes that this reminds him of his attempts to adapt Christianity. He tried to engage with the many voices in culture, because that’s the crowd.
A young girl elicits Peter’s denial.
He examines the words in the Gospel of John. It tells us about the girl who accuses Peter of being a disciple of Jesus.
It was a young girl (παιδίσκη).
Girard will find this important.
Why is stated that they are young?
He does not think Peter will be tempted sexually. He believes the girl has a job that would not suit an old woman. Maybe if she was an old woman she would not, similarly, respond to Peter. Another thing that the gospel us says that the young girl.
Peter’s accent, recognized as being of Galilee. What marks him as a foreigner? She was drawing lines, making them substantially Peter Marks if not part of the crowd. So, what do all the people when they are excluded from a group? They want to prove that they have related equipment.
Peter would like to show that he is on the side of the crowd. The only way to show this is to become part of the crowd. You must join the scapegoat mechanism.
If I have the same enemy, I am one of you.
Peter finds himself that the mob slaughter sacrifices Jesus as a scapegoat.
So, in the gospel you get subtle hints about Peter’s motivation, that are universally human.
That’s why Peter should not be labelled as a “weak” person for betraying Jesus.
Peter represents all the apostles because he is the leader.
This is why Girard, the scene of Peter’s denial and find absolutely priceless.
Girard asks rhetorically, how can we all?
The convictions have our time?
Only a few centuries ago, everyone had faith in God automatically.
Now, everyone does not automatically believe in him.
But that is purely the crowd phenomenon.
And it is not due to the “strong scientific arguments”.
It is just Peter his denial.
Forget.
That’s all it is.
Girard asserts something striking. He claims that Peter’s denial story in John’s Gospel is an infinitely more powerful story in society. It surpasses any other text.
But then there is also the fact that Peter is unaware of what he is doing.
Girard notes that this is significant.
The Gospels do not tell us that Peter was unaware of what he was doing,
Instead, he says that the rooster crowed the third time. Peter then remembered what he had forgotten. It was exactly that thing that Jesus had foretold.
Jesus listened to his Father. He understood the human condition and mimetic desire. He knew that Peter would be part of the audience.
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