Abstract

The article proposes a comparison between Thomas Hobbes and René Girard, drawing extensively on critical literature. Two authors who – despite having lived in different eras and having addressed different problems – deeply reasoned about the relationship between religion and violence. This contribution stems from the idea that the problem of the relationship between religion and violence is older than the tragic events of 11th September 2001. While Hobbes disciplines the relationship between violence and religion in the name of nihilism and relativism, Girard believes that this problem can only be solved by turning to Jesus Christ, whose destituent power has destroyed the mythological narrative of violence. Against Hobbesian political theology, which dismisses the complexity of Christianity, the essay opposes the Girardian perspective, which brings back to attention the non-violent message of the Gospels.