Jennifer Garcia Bashaw - Scapegoats: The Gospel through the Eyes of Victims

Employing the work of Ren Girard, Jennifer Bashaw explores Jesuss ministry among and to the oppressed in his world as recorded in the canonical Gospels. In a series of what she calls unveilings, Bashaw exposes contemporary Christians apathy towardor, worse, complicity and participation inscapegoating acts and attitudes of violence against the marginalized of our world. Empowering victors to read the Bible through the eyes of victims, Bashaw calls us to a deeper understanding of the transforming and liberating message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Scapegoats is a powerful read and a compelling call to action.

Mikeal C. Parsons, professor and Macon Chair in Religion, Baylor University

In her timely work, Jennifer Bashaw does not simply rehash Ren Girards work on scapegoats to discuss interpretation of texts pertaining to Jesus alone. Bashaw expands this research by engaging theory in order to push contemporary Christians to practice solidarity with societys current victims. Bashaws work rightly demands that Christians walk in the ways of Jesus when he engages women, people in poverty, and people who are considered other. Scapegoats is definitely a must-read for both academics and ministerial practitioners.

Angela N. Parker, assistant professor of New Testament and Greek, McAfee School of Theology, and author of If God Still Breathes, Why Cant I? Black Lives Matter and Biblical Authority

In this challenging book, Jennifer Garcia Bashaw exercises an uncanny ability to invite her readers into the story of the Gospelsas if we were there, sometimes watching and sometimes participating in Jesuss encounters with others. She is equally adept in her invitation to hear Jesuss provocative message within our horizons in the West, not least when doing so is uncomfortable, even painful. Her reading of the gospel through the eyes of victims urges us to cultivate communities of faith that overturn our tendencies toward scapegoating, instead embracing and championing those who live on societys margins.

Joel B. Green, professor of New Testament interpretation and associate dean for the Center for Advanced Theological Studies, Fuller Theological Seminary

At a time when the gospel is being co-opted to support anti-gospel hatred of the marginalized and xenophobia toward the other, Scapegoats is a prophetic summons. With both historical and hermeneutical depth, Bashaw helps us see the magnitude of the problem and inspires us to make a much-needed difference in the church and in the world.

Peter Enns, author of How the Bible Actually Works and host of The Bible for Normal People podcast

A must-read in churches and classrooms alike! Living through this moment in US history, it is all too easy for us to fall silent in the face of our seemingly unmendable polarization. Rather than giving in to the despair, Bashaw calls us forth to read and hear the Gospels afresh, from the perspectives of the scapegoats in these stories and those in US culture. With sincere love for the church, Bashaw reveals just how deep the infection of scapegoating in Christian history goes and offers us a way forward together, through honest recognition, repentance, and rectifying actions.

Alicia D. Myers, associate professor of New Testament and Greek, Campbell University Divinity School, and author of Blessed Among Women? Mothers and Motherhood in the New Testament

Bashaws book comes during a day and age in which scapegoating (still) runs rampant. She examines the scapegoating stories embedded in Scripture and Jesuss attempts to liberate its victims. From the first woman to the last, the infirm and the unfortunate, the foreign and the unfit, she exposes the scapegoating mechanisms inherent in our contemporary societies and cultures. Bashaw leads readers on the path of transformation, encouraging all of us to trade the needless cycle of fear, blame, and violence for the liberating cycle of confession, inclusion, and imitation of Christ, calling us to follow Jesus toward a world without scapegoats,... toward our own transformation, toward a communal love for neighbor and stranger, toward radical participation in the divine reign of God. May we hear the call and allow the truths unveiled in Bashaws book to guide us in our quest for a scapegoat-free worlda world in which love of God and neighbor reigns and rules.

Sharon L. Baker Putt, professor of theology and religion, Messiah College

History has proven the devastating effects of reading the Bible irresponsibly. Whole streams of thought that began from misreading the Bible, unintentionally and otherwise, continue to flow through political currents that wreak havoc on our lives together, and even on the planet itself. Bashaw relies on the insightful work of Ren Girard to render a critical analysis of this historical problem and offer a timely encouragement for how to read responsibly.

Reggie L. Williams, professor of Christian ethics, McCormick Theological Seminary, and author of Bonhoeffers Black Jesus: Harlem Renaissance Theology and an Ethic of Resistance

The Gospel through the Eyes of Victims

Jennifer Garcia Bashaw

Fortress Press

Minneapolis

SCAPEGOATS

The Gospel through the Eyes of Victims

Copyright 2022 by Fortress Press, an imprint of 1517 Media. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical articles or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Email copyright@1517.media or write Permissions, Fortress Press, PO Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440-1209.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (RSV) are taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1946, 1952, and 1971 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Cover design: Brice Hemmer

Cover image: iStock/Artem Stepanov

Print ISBN: 978-1-5064-6937-9

eBook ISBN: 978-1-5064-6938-6

While the author and 1517 Media have confirmed that all references to website addresses (URLs) were accurate at the time of writing, URLs may have expired or changed since the manuscript was prepared.

For my guys:

Kerry, Noah, Riley, and Isaac

I place a high value on sharing important life events with my community, perhaps because of my upbringing in a close-knit Hispanic family or perhaps because my people-focused personality leads me to do so. So, it is not surprising that in the course of writing this book, I invited many people into my process. I am grateful that everyone I invited joyfully participated. They have made this book better and have made me better as well.

I am grateful for my colleagues in the Department of Christian Studies at Campbell University. Thank you, Adam, for skillfully proofing my early chapters and bolstering my spirit with words of affirmation. Thank you, Ryan, for helping me with my most difficult chapter and offering me insight and inspiration throughout the writing process. Thank you, Kathy, Glenn, Thomas, and Jessica, for your friendship and support.