• The Bible, Sacred Violence, and the End of Scapegoating in Quaker Perspective
    
    by Thomas Jay Gates

    Turning Toward the Victim:

    

    Upcoming Release
  • The Bible, Sacred Violence, and the End of Scapegoating in Quaker Perspective

    Turning Toward the Victim:

    Upcoming Release

About Turning Toward the Victim:

Part primer on Rene Girard's groundbreaking mimetic theory, part Bible study (through the lens of mimetic theory), and part dialogue with early and contemporary Quakers, the author demonstrates how these three perspectives can mutually inform one another in unexpected ways. Contemporary liberal Friends (Quakers) have largely drifted away from the Bible, due in part to its seeming sanction of divine violence. Girard, by contrast, sees the themes of sacred violence and its overcoming as central to the Biblical witness, and so can provide the means by which Quakers and others might reengage with the Scriptures. Girard's claim that the biblical God has "nothing to do with violence" will resonate with Friends traditional commitment to nonviolence and peacemaking. His insights into "the scapegoat mechanism" can also help us to understand the witness of early Friends, who functioned as "the scapegoat caste" in 17th century England. Using the traditional Quaker framework of conviction / convincement / conversion, the author explores the relevance of these concepts for Friends and others today.

About Thomas Jay Gates:

I am a longtime member of Lancaster (PA) Friends Meeting, with an avocation of what I have called “the ministry of the written word,” as reflected in the publications listed below. Since retiring two years ago, I have engaged in a major book project, to be published by Wipf and Stock Publishers (in late 2025 or 2026), entitled Turning Toward the Victim: The Bible, Sacred Violence, and the End of Scapegoating in Quaker Perspective. I am a graduate of Williams College (1976) and Harvard Medical School (1980), and Board Certified in Family Medicine. I retired two years ago, after a 42-year career as a family physician, mostly in medically underserved areas, including two stints working in rural Africa (Kenya, 1991–94, and Malawi, 2015–17). After returning from Kenya, I spent a year at Earlham School of Religion in its Theological Reflection Year (non-degree, 1994–95), and more recently earned a “Certificate in Process Thought and Practice” from the Cobb Institute and the Center for Process Studies at Claremont. In 2024, I was the Kenneth Carroll Scholar for Biblical and Quaker Studies at Pendle Hill, a Quaker retreat and study center near Philadelphia, doing research for this book project. I have been married to Elizabeth Gates for 45 years, and we have two adult sons and four grandchildren. In addition to visiting family, Liz and I enjoy tandem bicycle trips (upcoming in 2015: Norway in June and the Columbia River in August). For pleasure, I play the Celtic Harp, garden, and read lots. I remain active with my local Quaker meeting as well as several Quaker organizations, including Right Sharing of World Resources.

Upcoming Book Release Details

Turning Toward the Victim: The Bible, Sacred Violence, and the End of Scapegoating in Quaker Perspective will be published by Wipf and Stock Publishers (Eugene, OR). 
To learn more about my book, including some excerpts, consider subscribing to my Substack: 
 https://tgates.substack.com/p/turning-toward-the-victim 

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