Common Good Podcast

Walter Brueggemann: Emancipation Myth

December 09, 2022
Common Good Podcast
Walter Brueggemann: Emancipation Myth
Show Notes

The Common Good podcast is a conversation about the significance of place, eliminating economic isolation and the structure of belonging. For this episode, Brad Wise, Darin Petersen and Joey Taylor speak with Walter Brueggemann about myth, Exodus and how it relates to the work of the Common Good.

The recited poem was Moses by Luis Alberto de Cuenca.

Walter Brueggemann is one of the most influential Bible interpreters of our time. He is the author of over one hundred books and numerous scholarly articles. He has been a highly sought-after speaker. Brueggemann was born in Tilden, Nebraska in 1933. He often speaks of the influence of his father, a German Evangelical pastor. Brueggemann attended Elmhurst College, graduating in 1955 with an A.B. He went on to Eden Theological Seminary, earning a B.D. (equivalent to today’s M.Div.) in 1958. He completed his formal theological education at Union Theological Seminary in 1961, earning the Th.D. under the primary guidance of James Muilenburg. While teaching at Eden, he earned a Ph.D. in education at St. Louis University. Brueggemann has served as faculty at two institutions in his career: Eden Theological Seminary (1961-1986) and Columbia Theological Seminary (1986-2003). He is currently William Marcellus McPheeters professor emeritus of Old Testament at Columbia. Brueggemann’s primary method with the text is rhetorical criticism. Words matter to Brueggemann, and one can tell that by listening to him speak as he hangs on to particularly theologically significant words. His magnum opus, Theology of the Old Testament (1997), is a rhetorical-critical look at the Old Testament through the lenses of “testimony, dispute, and advocacy.” Many have come to know Brueggemann through his book entitled The Prophetic Imagination. Church leaders find a friend in Brueggemann, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. His work inspires, energizes, and convicts, and he often makes time to interact personally with those to whom he speaks at large events.

Darin Petersen is the co-founder of the Common Good Collective and founder of Common Change.

Brad Wise is the co-founder of three story-driven organizations: Boonrise, Bespoken Live, and Good vs Gooder. He is the chief creative officer for Boonrise based in Cincinnati, Ohio. When he's not doing all that, Brad is hanging out with his beautiful wife, Leah, and their three kids, Henry, Jane & Eliza. Their crazy dogs, Huck & Lola, are usually close by, as well. Brad was also a Common Good Collective Fellow.

This episode was produced by Joey Taylor and the music is from Jeff Gorman. You can find more information about the Common Good Collective and the reader here. Common Good Podcast is a production of Bespoken Live and Common Change - Eliminating Personal Economic Isolation