EMERGENCE

Crowd or Conscience

“Violence is the heart and secret soul of the sacred.” This is the famous and a rather out of the way statement made by René Girard, a Franco-American Philosopher. I am studying his contributions as part of my dissertation. While reading his book I See Satan Fall Like Lightening, I came across the following quote which actually Emmanuel Levinas cites: “If every one is in agreement to condemn someone accused, release him for he must be innocent.” This way of accusation made by the group against an individual reveals the herd mentality of human beings. Somehow scapegoating and victimizing innocent people seems to have become the order of the day. The principle of “all against one,” appears to be an efficient channel that helps blame and guilt to be transferred to an arbitrary victim. The end is clear; the victim is sacrificed for no guilt of own.

Scapegoating is quite common among those people who follow a crowd more than their conscience. Drawing close, herd mentality is a characteristic feature of many of us Indians. We are not very far from the depressing results we have had due to such a following.

When I first became aware of the scapegoat mechanism that Girard recognizes in the society, something like a current passed through every vein in my body. A gang victimizing one single individual can be dreadful. While introspecting, these questions hammered on my brain: am I one of those who accuse innocent victims? Am I led more by the crowd or my conscience? The truth is bitter…

Girard makes a significant intervention at this juncture. Unanimity in human groups is rarely a vehicle of truth; more often it is nothing but a mimetic, tyrannical phenomenon. His words reveal the harsh truth that more than often crowd is misleading collection especially when it comes to accusing someone who is innocent.

I can’t proceed ahead because my mind is triggered by the memories of those moments when I have given my consent to accuse the other. But the best example that comes to my heart is the incident when Jesus instead of accusing the prostitute woman sets her free from the accusing mob. The challenge before me is to follow this example. Where the crowd misdirects and chains me, my conscience should direct and liberate…