Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam > Blaise Pascal Instituut > Girard Studiekring > COV&R 2007 > Abstracts Papers 

Philippe De Keukelaere

Active tolerance in the Jewish-Christian inter-religious dialogue – a way towards peace

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ABSTRACT

1. Introduction: “tolerance” and “inter-religious dialogue” are in a catch 22 situation. Proposal for new interpretation of the term "tolerance", i.e. "active tolerance". Conditions for active tolerance in inter-religious dialogue:

a) listen to criticism from the other party,

b) our position: Christian religious intolerance and anti-Semitism = double misjudgement of one's own texts, mimesis of Roman religion/Judaism and Jesus' kingship, always a link, therefore new knowledge.

c) inter-religion, good reciprocity through active tolerance.

2. listen, open one's ears to criticism as active tolerance. Starting point: the criticism of Jewish philosopher Shmuel Trigano of the link made by René Girard between his anthropology and Christianity. The reformulation of Christianity would no longer leave any room for Judaism. Trigano fears that Girard wants to absorb particular Judaism into universal Christianity - historic past - etc.

3. renewed knowledge of our own texts as active tolerance. For example: religious mimesis and the decapitation of John the Baptist.

A) political mimetic rivalry. Antipas, urge for kingship, Flavius Josephus, precise cause of frustration is known; 

B) the core (2 characteristics) of Roman religion.

1. obsessive ritualism (position John Scheid, Collège de France)

2. sacred ambivalent unity in the divine – benevolence/malice pax deorum/ira deorum (position Matha Sordi, Univ. Milan, R.Girard, wrath of the gods).

C) Antipas’ religious mimesis = imitation of Roman religion - birthday celebrations Tiberius (known Roman decree about this), meaning: honey of sacred birthday cake in Rome (libum)/wild honey John the Baptist – Pilate's recovered coin showing simpulum, etc. It is certain that Antipas took the Roman sacred oath. Antipas repeated his vow, most mimetic Roman ritual through repetition phonetically Roman oath = ius iurandum (Emilio Benveniste) and consequences for Antipas. Oath = turning point sacred ambivalence feast.

4. the kingship of Jesus and active tolerance. Jesus' baptism = biblical royal unction. Convincing position of A.Abecassis (Jewish side) and F. Mans (Christian side): same conclusion. Jesus, hidden king of Israel , is not only faithful to the Jewish election; it is exactly because of this particular election that Roman religion is lethally wounded. Active tolerance helps to discover this particular space in one’s own texts. Not appropriation, but recognition, even "if this people does not recognise Jesus of N. as the Messiah and Saviour of the world" (Cardinal Schönborn) = relief from mimetic fascination between religions = active tolerance, the way towards peace.