Brueggemann's comment about the destruction of the world trade center as our age's destruction of the second temple is an absurd reflection of the American conceit that what happens to us is some how more important than what happens to everyone else. Two buildings in one city were knocked down; the rest of us live in our cities, on our old streets, in our own homes. Virtually nothing has changed. At the fall of the second temple, the Hebrews' leaders were tortured to death, they were flayed alive, .... Their entire civilization was destroyed, ... And the Jewish profits lamented not only the destruction of the second temple but the of that of the first temple when the entire people were driven from their homes. A contemporary equivalent would be what is happening in Darfur or what the Talaban did (are doing) to the Afghani people. And, in some ways, what has happened to the Palestinian people who are being used as pawns. Also, while I feel less passionately about his comment that violence is increasing, social scientists who study societal trends are saying that in fact overall world violence has decreased in the last 50 years. His "lamentation" for the the present is a personal conceit. While there are evils in today's America, where is his superior future? How does he inspire congregants to work toward that future? By preaching a harangue from the pulpit?

Walter Brueggemann compared the destruction of the Temple to 9/11 for his students. I think that the destruction of the Temple was much worse for the Jews at the time. The whole religion was based on the Temple and the sacrifices, but the Temple was destroyed and the sacrifices could not be carried out. Jews had to rebuild their whole religion. Modern Judaism is a rabbinic religion. Prayer, good deeds and study replaced the sacrifices. One of the purposes of Jewish law was to sanctify everyday life. The home became a portable Temple. Judaism would have died out otherwise and the Jewish people would have disappeared.

Reappraisal of spiritual life in the contemporary US, and a new reading of the Bible as poetry in Brueggemann's sense. Beautiful language spoken. A very nice gift for Christmas morning.

Your interview with Walter Brueggemann reinforced that power of prophecy as mediation in our society, which points to both the individual (or group) and the literary corpus. It is forms such as lively poetry and irony that often help us to move from being held captive by the dominant societal script of "technological, therapeutic, consumer militarism" (Brueggemann) and allow us to escape and embrace a new script of hope. Thanks for the interview!

Professor Brueggmenn stated that the US Church does not speak of how Capitalism commodifies every aspect of our lives, i would direct him to both the Secular and Religious Left; only there will you find this stand. Example Chris Hedges

First, let me thank you for your work. While I local npr station does not carry your program, I do support your work and catch all the programs online. I was a United Methodist minister for 27 years and only wish you had been around as a great resource. Walter Brueggemann is a long time favorite - my reading group just finished Prophetic Imagination. I have a suggestion. For me, the most important north american theologian still living is Douglas John Hall retired from McGill University. He lives in Montreal, studied at union with the greats, and has spent a lifetime working on a theology for north america. What made me think about him is his phrase that ministers today are "chaplains to the empire". I thought of that while Brueggemann was talking about why it is hard for minister to be prophetic. Halls work is extensive, accessible, and he is a wonderful human being. check him out!!! I think he would be a most engaging interview for you an d your listeners.

What a beautiful interview.

I listened to it while in the middle of conversations about the nature of complex adaptive systems, emergence and order for a fascinating work project. It led to the following blog - I'd love all of your thoughts and feedback on it!

http://turningtowardshuman.blogspot.com/2012/01/poetry-order-and-prophec...

I might write another blog in the near future about lamentations - it reminded me of the importance of Joanna Macy's work.

I was reminded of the parable of the wine-skins. Maybe it's human nature, but Dr. Brueggemann highlights for me how our attempts at grasping, owning and describing God and The Gospel is like pouring new wine into old wine-skins... The outcome of such handling is certain. We need new wine-skins for this stuff, it's imperative!