I have watched the first video, and first of all, I think it is fantastic. What Father James is saying is genius in its simplicity. I have never thought of approaching Christianity as an inculcation of new habits. Yet this fits perfectly with my understanding of Girard’s mimetic desire theory. Thank you Father James!
My first thought in regards to the idea of starting with theory and then working with morals is to remember that it is precisely this method which has led me here. Reading about scapegoat mechanism and how the crucifixtion reveals it definitely led me to begin thinking intellectually about how this all may be true.
So, I am now thinking that theory and morals may lead one to the door of faith, but it is in “relaxing into a practice over time” which will take me through.