Show-Me State Times

Paul Lynch, Ph.D., a scholar at Saint Louis University, has received the 2024 Book of the Year award from the Religious Communication Association (RCA) for his work titled "Persuasions of God: Inventing the Rhetoric of René Girard." This recognition highlights exceptional scholarship in religious communication, a field that Lynch has contributed to significantly, having previously received the best article award from the RCA in 2018.

In "Persuasions of God," Lynch delves into the ideas of René Girard, a French historian and philosopher noted for his work on mimetic theory and the psychology of desire. Girard's theories, which include the "scapegoat mechanism" and the roots of human desire in imitation, are used by Lynch to explore contemporary questions of conflict and human desire. Lynch describes Girard's perspective as offering critical insights for today's societal challenges, particularly through understanding the scapegoat mechanism: "Girard articulates an understanding of Christ that is perfectly applicable for the moment we are in."

Lynch's book applies Girard's theories to reinvent religious discourse in what he terms a "theo-rhetoric," focusing on modern expressions of the sacred in a post-Christian context. He elaborates on this approach: "It gets at how we become fully-fledged humans. Do we want what we want because we want it, or because someone else has told us we should want it?"

The RCA, an academic society formed in 1973, supports scholarly engagement with issues in religious speech, rhetoric, media, and performance. It remains nonsectarian and includes diverse participants interested in religious communication.

To further discuss these themes, a panel at Saint Louis University will explore the implications of Girard's work and Lynch's book. Scheduled for April 3 at Boileau Hall, the session will feature additional insights from SLU academics Grant Kaplan, Ph.D., Randall Rosenberg, Ph.D., and Jennifer Sanders, Ph.D. The event aims to address the polycrisis described by Pope Francis and the role of Girard's ideas in tackling these global challenges.