Preacher: Michael Hardin

Michael Hardin

Michael Hardin is a prominent American theologian, author, and speaker known for his work on non-violence, peace theology, and the application of René Girard’s mimetic theory to Christian scripture. He is the co-founder and Executive Director of Preaching Peace, an organisation dedicated to reimagining the Christian faith through a lens of peace and reconciliation. Michael’s work primarily revolves around "liberating" the Gospel from what he views as violent interpretations, such as penal substitutionary atonement. He heavily utilises the anthropology of René Girard to explain how human violence and scapegoating have historically shaped religious concepts. He argues that Jesus' death was not a requirement of God to satisfy divine justice, but a non-sacrificial act of reconciliation that exposes human violence. Michael's most acclaimed book, The Jesus Driven Life, serves as a guide for living out a theology centred on the non-violent character of Jesus.