Creative Mimesis and the Practice of "Gentle Action"

Join us for a special half-day, online event bringing together expert speakers on the topic of Creative Mimesis and the practice of “Gentle Action” in relation to Rene Girard’s mimetic theory, including within a global and historical context. Gentle Action refers to decision-making and action that relies not on externally manipulating events or imposing structure on organizations, but instead allowing authentic and effective solutions to arise from a grasp of the situation as a whole; the concept of Gentle Action emerged from insights scientists have made about the characteristics of self-organizing systems. (See the links below for more information.)

In keeping with Theology and Peace’s emphasis on both theory and practice,

• We will begin with two expert speakers on the philosophy and theology of creative mimesis and Gentle Action, with time for moderated Q&A in the Chat function.
• We will then move to a synthetic Roundtable panel discussion, with some additional participant Q&A with our speakers.
• We will conclude with an experiential discussion hour in small breakout groups, so participants can share in developing their own stories and responses.
• An optional Theology and Peace evening session in October will allow participants to continue the conversation and ask more questions of the speakers.

Felicity McCallum, an Indigenous Australian Girardian theologian and activist, will join us at the Roundtable discussion and continue our conference theme at the November Quarterly Speaker’s Series with stories of Creative Mimesis and Gentle Action.

CE credit available upon request. (Contact Karen Kepner at pastorkarenkepner@proton.me )  A more detailed schedule with descriptions of each talk will be forthcoming.

Registration for the Mini-Conference is $25. However, cost should not be a barrier to anyone. If you need a scholarship, please contact Andrew McRae at mimesismovies@gmail.com. 

Resources on the concept and practice of Gentle Action:

Each of these offers a helpful take on this emergent approach to problem solving.

https://www.fdavidpeat.com/ideas/gentle.htm

https://paricenter.com/library-new/gentle-action/

https://www.resurgence.org/magazine/article2772-gentle-action.html

https://juliaculen.com/2020/09/01/deep-transformation-calls-for-gentle-action/

SPEAKERS AND PARTICIPANTS:

Vern Neufeld Redekop, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus at St. Paul University in Conflict Studies, Ottawa, Canada. From a Mennonite background in conflict resolution with training in Biblical Studies, Vern specializes in studying deep-rooted conflict using interdisciplinary methods and mimetic theory. He has extensive connections within the Indigenous and Interreligious communities in Canada and elsewhere, as well as creative collaborators within the Canadian government and numerous NGOs. Vern is internationally known for his innovative work in educating and training a wide variety of groups in conflict resolution. He has helped to deeply develop and apply the concept of loving or creative mimesis in numerous books, including From Violence to Blessing: How an Understanding of Deep-Rooted Conflict Can Lead to Paths of Reconciliation; Rene Girard and Creative Mimesis (ed. with Thomas Ryba) and Rene Girard and Creative Reconciliation (ed. with Thomas Ryba). He has also, with Gloria Neufeld Redekop, edited the volumes Awakening: Exploring Spirituality, Emergent Creativity and Reconciliation; and Transforming: Applying Spirituality, Emergent Creativity, and Reconciliation.  

Robin A. Collins, Ph.D., Randall Basinger Chair of Philosophy at Messiah University, Mechanicsburg, PA. Robin is an internationally acclaimed scholar, teacher and speaker, and expert in the Philosophy of Science and the Philosophy of Religion. He studies both Western and Asian Philosophies, Philosophy of Mind, and the History and Philosophy of Science, and is well-known for his innovative contributions to these fields. Robin is the author of over 50 scholarly articles in leading journals and books and has been the recipient of a major Templeton Foundation Grant on his specialty of the fine-tuning of the universe for discovery. He has also published on Rene Girard’s mimetic theory and Atonement theory, and on “Nature as a Source of Non-Conflictual Desire” in world philosophy, from which his talk will draw.

Rebecca J. Adams, Convener of the Loving Mimesis Generative Dialogue Group, Board member of Theology and Peace, long-time member of the Colloquium on Violence and Religion, and former Managing Editor of the Journal of Religion and Literature at the University of Notre Dame. Rebecca is one of the leading proponents in the Girardian community on the need for loving, creative or positive mimesis within mimetic theory, and both personally studied with and interviewed Rene Girard. Coming originally from the field of literature, Rebecca works as an Independent Scholar, scholarly editor and poet with an interest in theology, philosophy and conflict resolution. She has taught literature, writing, Women’s Studies, and courses on Rene Girard’s work. Using her knowledge of mimetic and other theory, she has also worked with creating innovative liturgies, rituals, retreats, and other presentations for multicultural Episcopal churches and academic groups. She also collaborates with her spouse, Robin Collins, on both intellectual and creative work designed to reach a wide range of people. Rebecca will lead us through the Mini-Conference program and the discussion on Creative Mimesis and Gentle Action in the synthetic Roundtable panel discussion.

Felicity McCallum, Ph.D., Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Officer at Common Grace in Australia, as well as a lecturer at the Australian Catholic University and an Adjunct Research Fellow focused on Theology and Australian History with Charles Sturt University, (Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture), Canberra. Felicity recently completed her Theology doctorate at Charles Sturt University, where she did her dissertation research on Rene Girard in relation to the history, beliefs and practices of Awabakal Indigenous people in the region north of what is now known as Sydney. Felicity has found that Rene Girard offers insight into both colonial violence and into avenues of creativity and healing from that violence, through loving or creative forms of mimesis. She is a leading public voice in Australia on matters of Indigenous life and Christianity/religion. Felicity is an Awabakaleen (female of Awaba) active in her community as a spiritual leader, teacher, and advocate for Indigenous issues. Her history mirrors that of Australia’s population, with ancestors from both the Indigenous people and the later colonists with Celtic roots in the land that came to be called Australia.

Rev. Ellen Corcella, J.D., M.T.S., Board member of Theology and Peace, former Federal prosecutor, and now retired hospital chaplain. Ellen was ordained in her second career in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) denomination. She is the author of a recent memoir that explores faith, trauma, and resilience through the lens of her experiences as an attorney and chaplain, entitled Walk with Me: A Journey through the Landscape of Trauma. Ellen also hosts the Faith and Resilience Podcast. Ellen will guide our Q&A Chat questions from participants throughout the Mini-Conference sessions and help facilitate breakout groups.