2026 The Thought of René Girard
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Description:
One of the most influential 20th century Catholic thinkers, René Girard transformed our understanding of culture, religion, and human behavior. His “mimetic theory” builds on the demystifying power of the Old and New Testaments to illuminate the religious history of mankind. Through an intensive reading of his more accessible works, in conjunction with the fiction of the greatest writers, this five-day seminar will explore Girard’s key insights into imitation, conflict, and scapegoating, connecting them to central themes of Christian theology.
Location and Format:
This seminar will be held at the Lumen Christi Institute in Chicago.
Participants will arrive on Thursday July 2, and depart on Wednesday, July 8.
There will be two 2.5-hour sessions on Friday, Monday, and Tuesday. On Saturday and Sunday, the morning session will be followed by a post-lunch excursion.
Each session will a seminar-style discussion of the text and the issues at hand. Students will be expected to prepare the readings carefully, submit study questions in advance, and participate actively in each session.
Admitted students will be granted a stipend of $350 to offset travel costs in addition to having their lodging and meals covered for the duration of the seminar.
Application Information:
- This seminar is open to all undergraduate students (including 2026 graduates) interested in understanding the thought of one of the great modern Christian apologists.
- Applicants will be required to submit an online application form including: A list of completed coursework. At least one and as many as two letter(s) of recommendation from a professor at the school in which the student is currently enrolled. A statement of interest no longer than 750 words, which includes an explanation of how this seminar might bear on the student’s current intellectual interests. All application materials can be submitted via the online application.
Fifteen applicants will be admitted to this seminar. Applicants must be 18 by the time of the seminar.
Application Deadline is February 2, 2026.