Tag: Radical Christianity

Rethinking the Christian Contribution: Walter Brueggemann’s Imagination (Audio)

December 23, 2019

I introduce some of theologian Walter Brueggemann’s themes in his classic “The Prophetic Imagination,” discussing some of the ways we can avail ourselves of a common narrative to try to gain some freedom against oppression, whether of the old-style Pharoah or the new version of less visible but very powerful economic and political forces that keep people working for an agenda they wouldn’t naturally choose. Through Brueggemann’s eyes, we are living in the imagination of “Royal consciousness” but we could be living in the imagination of God. What does this mean, not just for Christians, but generally for people who are trying to find some way to push back and gain some freedom? … More Rethinking the Christian Contribution: Walter Brueggemann’s Imagination (Audio)

Consumerism or Death: Memento Mori (Radical Christianity audio)

July 30, 2019

A discussion of the book An Other Kingdom: Departing the Consumer Culture by Block, Brueggemann and McKnight, especially on the idea of the fear of death causing the consumer addiction, the loss of which can be quite disturbing: “Grief occurs to us because of the impossibility of perfection and immortality. The free market consumer ideology calls us to infinite possibility. It promises perfection (you can always improve your lot in life) and immortality (there is an answer to aging). This is its value proposition. Grow or die. Consume or be unhappy. The market is an engine for denial instead of grieving.” Some practical ways to depart are discussed. … More Consumerism or Death: Memento Mori (Radical Christianity audio)

Radical Christianity: An Other Kingdom

June 17, 2019

Block, Brueggemann and McKnight are authors of An Other Kingdom: Departing the Consumer Culture. In this video, I introduce their critique of today’s politicized and materialistic Christianity and begin to pose a radical break with the American entanglement of Christianity and the dominant civil religion. Here’s a link to An Other Kingdom: https://www.alibris.com/An-Other-King… Here’s Walter Brueggemann’s website: https://www.walterbrueggemann.com/ … More Radical Christianity: An Other Kingdom