Shifting Culture Ep. 322 Brian McLaren Returns - The Polycrisis and Imagining a Better Future
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Jul 15, 2025 
Brian McLaren, a bestselling author and advocate for a new kind of Christianity, returns to discuss his speculative novel The Last Voyage, which imagines a world facing ecological collapse and authoritarianism. He emphasizes the power of fiction to foster moral imagination and resilience. McLaren explores themes like generational conflict, the necessity of interdependence over extraction, and transforming notions of security. He presents storytelling as a vital tool for envisioning a hopeful future, urging a collective shift towards community and environmental responsibility.
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Prophetic Role of Art
- Prophetic art warns and imagines better futures rather than predicts exact outcomes.
- It helps people plan their response to possible scenarios rather than resign to fate.
Planet of the Apes Influence
- Brian recalls the original Planet of the Apes as a prophetic sci-fi impacting his imagination on racism.
- The movie’s twist ending redefined his view on societal issues and future possibilities.
Understanding Our Polycrisis
- The current polycrisis combines ecological overshoot and authoritarianism worsening these crises.
- Powerful oligarchs align to push humanity toward environmental destruction and authoritarian control.
