Why do we scapegoat?

Soul Search

James Alison says scapegoating is one of our oldest social behaviours. But casting someone out to maintain group cohesion has its obvious drawbacks — particularly for the person taking the fall! As a gay Catholic priest, Dr Alison was drawn to the work of French polymath René Girard, who proposed that scapegoating is not the only answer.

Dr James Alison is a Catholic priest, retreat leader, author and theological interpreter of the work of René Girard. His many books include, Jesus the Forgiving Victim. He was brought to Australia by Catholic Religious Australia, the peak body for Catholic Leaders of Religious Institutes and Societies of Apostolic Life.

• James Alison’s 2023 Australian tour dates.
• Hear more on René Girard and victimhood on the Philosopher’s Zone on ABC Listen.