Rene Girard (1923-2015) a French polymath, anthropologist, historian, literary critic and philosopher described how human beings clash because they desire the same object. Historically, something was sacrificed to resolve the conflict. Since Jesus' Resurrection, however, we side with the victim, but do not accept that Jesus' sacrifice on the cross atones for sin. Thus, the hunt for scapegoats continues and has a destructive effect on our culture.
Why does Jesus hold up the outsider, the Samaritan, as the model of faith. More on Rene Girard, mimetic desire and scapegoating on this week with Oro Valley Catholic.