Joel Hodge grew up in Brisbane and completed his doctorate in Studies in Religion at the University of Queensland. His dissertation explored how Christian faith and the Catholic Church provided the basis for forgiving and non-violent resistance to violence and oppression in East Timor under Indonesian occupation. This study will be forthcoming with Ashgate Publishing as Resisting Violence and Victimisation: Christian Faith and Solidarity in East Timor. Joel's main academic interest is in the philosophical insights of René Girard and has an edited book forthcoming with Continuum: Violence, Desire and the Sacred: Girard’s Mimetic Theory Across the Disciplines. Joel has an active interest in East Timor and speaks the main local language, Tetun.