Girard's Individual?

As I was reading a moderate rated review of Rene Girard's work' "Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World" I noted a few things. First even though the reviewer rated this work three stars this was his second book by Girard and had ordered two more.

Secondly, it was clear that in spite of some reservation he found the thoughts put forward in this magnum opus irresistibly compelling. Third, something that I found thought-provoking was the lament that there is an absence of the affirmation of the "individual" or the concept of "individuation" in Girard's work.

I've accepted the idea long ago that the concept of the individual is illusory. I've let this sit in my thoughts for a long time, occasionally tossing in other ideas and insights as they come along, sort of the way one would bake a cake. A little bit of this, a little bit of that, and bake at 350° for 30 minutes.

I'm stirring the batter a little this morning.

The writer was at odds with losing the category of being "individual" and was finding this unbearable. However I find an allusion to this expressed in literature with the repeated (twice in Matthew & Luke) statement by Jesus:

"Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

I believe this is much more nuanced than what we've been able, or allowed, to see.

I am nothing but the aggregated influence of every unnamed and unnoticed desire put before me. The earliest words from and observation of my parents, friends, to the bullies in the school yard. They've all become part of what is collectively called me.

In social structure we call the VISIBLE manifestation of this dynamic peer pressure. The most energetic and affective elements of this are not so visible.What Girard expounds on are these hidden movements of desire, that which we cannot see, nor even search out until that first - and fatal to our preconceptions - unveiling.

Those hidden motives that always remain just beyond our cognition; Those - as a truth - that are addressed when Jesus, from the cross, repeatedly utters the words: "Father forgive them, for THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING." Lk 23:34

This not knowing is deeper and broader than our religious traditions have allowed any to see and it is in this realm that Girard shows his brilliance!

We always carry pieces of others around within us, as part OF us. We are not alone, because the truth is, we are, in this sense, in one-another, just as when we say of those who have passed on that we carry them in our hearts; No, it's much more than that. Part of them continues to literally live within you, for better or worse.

"...so that they may all be one. Just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be one in us..." Jn 17:21

Our uniqueness is only and precisely a particular manifestation of all the "other" contained within us. To hate your neighbor is, by extension, to hate yourself. And if we fill the world with self-hate disguised as love what hope do we have?

What you have done to the least of these brothers of mine, you've done for me Matt 25:40

For when you pass judgment on another person, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, practice the very same things. Rom 2:1

How can you say you love God and yet hate your neighbor? 1Jn 4:20

All these references function to remove the distance between us all, if we would let them.

Well, there's more ingredients for the bowl and another day.