Fr. Elias Presents at Prestigious Novitate Conference

The Novitate Conference explored new models of thought and desire that lead to human flourishing, drawing inspiration from the ideas of an important contemporary thinker, bringing his or her ideas into contact with traditions and people it may not have otherwise reached, in the academy and outside of it. Our goal is to bring together three metaphorical cities: Athens (reason), Jerusalem (faith Traditions), and Silicon Valley (innovators in business and beyond).

He presented his paper, “It’s Not About Who Started It, But That We’re All A Part of IT: Towards and Ethos of Insecurity” at one of the breakout sessions during the conference, which included several panel discussions as well as small group discussions.

Father Elias explained the role of stereotypes in light of classic cognitive theory, evolutionary theory, and mimetic theory. He asked whether we can still afford to make use of these shorthands for safety, wondering if there were not a way we could learn to live with insecurity.

The conference began with a private screening of  a new documentary on the life and work of Rene Girard entitled “Things Hidden” at the Mayflower Hotel. The conference proper took place at the university center and at the Columbus School of Law on the campus of Catholic University. Between the diverse panels and small group discussions there were many opportunities to mingle, almost always beginning with the question, “How did you find yourself here?” The Silicon Valley entrepreneur and student of Girard, Peter Thiel gave a provocative key note entitled “Nihilism is Not Enough.”

At the conclusion of the very productive day of listening and pondering the significance and future of Mimetic Theory, the group returned to the Mayflower Hotel where the evening’s celebration of the centenary of Girard’s birth carried on for the rest of the evening. Father Elias gave the keynote address at the Gala of two hundred guests.

On Saturday morning, Father Elias presided and preached at the Memorial Mass for Rene Girard on the eighth anniversary of his death on November 4, 2015.