Keywords
sacrificial
scapegoat
Bible
victims
How to Cite
Abstract
This article introduces to Girard's contribution to a rereading of sacrificial biblical texts, and to epistemology and biblical exegesis. It discusses the subject of the sacrifices in the most relevant texts of the Bible, both the New and the Old Testament, and how these have been interpreted in the mainstream Christian tradition, concluding with the theme of Jesus' sacrifice and the traditional way of interpretation as a self-sacrificing and expiatory victim of human sin. It provides a look from the perspective of the “scapegoat”, its role in religion and culture, as well as the development of “sacrificial crisis”, according to Girard. Also, it develops the implications of this re-reading for our theology and our commitment to the victims of Colombian armed, social and political conflict. Finally, this article settles some questions from Girard's contribution and a re-reading of biblical texts: What do we say to a victimized nation by new forms of ‘scapegoats’? How to find a different path from our Christian tradition, to overcome this condition?
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