The Architecture of Blame

The End of Victimage and the Beginning of Justice

Mary Marcel

$180

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

Lexington Books/Fortress Academic
15 June 2024

Philosophy of religion; Theology; Social welfare & social services; Psychology

The structure of society—whether political, social, economic, religious, or familial—can be described as built upon structures of acceptable blame. But what happens when we can no longer persuade each other about where blame for particular actions should land? What happens when the expected scapegoats refuse that role and bystanders question their support of sacrificing “the usual suspects”? René Girard, master theorist of scapegoating and victimage, would characterize this era as one of sacrificial crisis. The Architecture of Blame: The End of Victimage and the Beginning of Justice explores these current critical areas of failed persuasion as symptoms of a deeper and much more profound crisis in our religious, social, and political order. This book offers six precepts addressing the un- or under-theorized aspects of Girard’s theory of scapegoating and sacrificial violence. These precepts, supported with examples from religion, psychology, literature, and history, illuminate the root causes of the current sacrificial crisis in the world. They open a way forward to a future without scapegoats.

By: Mary Marcel
Imprint: Lexington Books/Fortress Academic
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm,
ISBN: 9781666944723
ISBN 10: 1666944726
Pages: 252
Publication Date: 15 June 2024
Audience: College/higher education , Further / Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Acknowledgements Introduction: The Architecture of Blame Chapter 1: Theorizing the Current Crisis Chapter 2: The Agency of Human Scapegoats as Scapegoats Chapter 3: Scapegoating as Process Chapter 4: Women and Children: Experiences of Violence Without the Sacred Chapter 5: Fathers and Their Sons as Scapegoats: Ham and Jesus Chapter 6: Crimes Against Nurture: The Painful Childhood of the Future Powerful Chapter 7: The Power of Bystanders: Acceding to or Rejecting Scenes of Sacrifice Conclusion: Reducing Pain and Sharing What Remains References About the Author

Mary Marcel is associate professor of experience design at Bentley University (PhD Rhetoric, University of California at Berkeley) where she teaches business ethics and managerial communication.