Losing the Lost Object | On Scapegoating, Ideology and Conversion

With traumatic events like those witnessed in Charlottesville, we’re faced with the challenge of how to read, and respond to, the rise of right wing organizations. In the current climate of political unrest, there are groups who wish to mobilize discontent around the figure of a scapegoat. Some group that can be held responsible for real political, economic and cultural antagonisms. In this seminar we explore a theoretical framework that can help us interpret the rise of extremism and understand how to develop an effective response. Beyond condemnation and calls for love, we look at how a pyrotheological reading of Christianity can help us actively forge micro-societies of resistance that can positively transform our political landscape.