James Alison is a Catholic theologian, priest, and author, who has studied, lived, and worked in Mexico, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Spain, America, and England.  Known for his firm but patient insistence on truthfulness regarding gay matters as an ordinary part of basic Christianity, James is dedicated to pastoral outreach. James has written eight books. His latest is titled, Jesus the Forgiving Victim: Listening for the Unheard Voice.  James earned a doctorate in theology and serves as a Fellow and Chair of the Education Committee at IMITATIO, an organization that focuses on René Girard’s insights into human behavior and culture. Topics Discussed: James’s faith journey René Girard and mimetic theory The scapegoat mechanism Sacred (or Holy) vs. Mysticism (or Mythification) of Divine as churches crumble Intelligence of victim Grace and growth   Links and Resources:  James AlisonBooks by James AlisonJesus the Forgiving Victim: Listening for the Unheard VoiceIMITATIORené Girard and Mimetic TheoryNadia Bolz-WeberLeap of Faith Movie with Steve MartinBeyond Shame by Matthias RobertsMatthias Roberts on Patreon Tweets: God’s word matters more than any amount of scientific knowledge or learning. Catholicism: Grace perfects nature. Gradual Realization: Reality is screwed up, but not radically screwed up.  Learn from who you are, what is true. God has nothing to do with violence.