Renowned theologian Walter Brueggemann passed away in June 2025 at the age of 92. In this special retrospective episode of No Small Endeavor, we celebrate his remarkable life and legacy. Drawing from memorable conversations and insightful lectures, we revisit Brueggemann’s piercing critique of what he called the "totalism of market ideology"—the pervasive cultural force shaping American thought and suppressing dissenting voices. With characteristic wisdom, clarity, and wit, Brueggemann challenges us to reject narratives of scarcity, fear, and commodification, inviting us instead into the hopeful vision he famously described as the "prophetic imagination." Listen as he shares personal stories, intellectual turning points, and profound reflections on the power and urgency of truth-telling, both in pulpits and pews.

Show Notes

Resources:

"The Prophetic Imagination" by Walter Brueggemann

"My Bright Abyss" by Christian Wiman

“Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism” by Robert Jay Lifton

Walter Brueggemann on the NSE YouTube Channel

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Transcript

You can get the unabridged version for this episode in NSE+. Click here to join NSE+ if you're not already a member.

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