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Ancient Echoes - Print
Ancient Echoes - Print
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Ancient Echoes
Refusing the Fear-Filled, Greed-Driven Toxicity of the Far Right
By Walter Brueggemann
A trenchant, scripture‑rooted critique of far‑right ideology that restores the vision of the common good through prophetic biblical counter‑narratives.
This book will help you:
- Discern and challenge common fear‑driven and greed‑based political narratives.
- Reengage with the biblical call to community, hospitality, justice, and compassion.
- Equip faith leaders and communities with theological responses to toxic ideologies.
- Foster a deeper understanding of how scripture counters individualism and nostalgia.
- Reinforce commitment to collective well‑being and equitable care.
- Navigate cultural engagement from a place of prophetic clarity and courage.
- Renew hope that enduring ancient truths can counter modern political toxicity.
Features
- Eight Scripture‑based responses to eight dominant right‑wing “truth claims” drawn from Kurt Andersen’s Evil Geniuses
- Prophetic wisdom addressing themes like governance, nostalgia, science denial, greed, selfish liberty, inequality, and universal healthcare
- Compact yet powerful format—132 pages, ideal for group study or sermon prep
- Provocative endorsements, notably from Thomas G. Long:
“In this powerful book Brueggemann goes right after the sacred creeds of toxic right‑wing politics... the words of the Bible leap to life... Every rabbi and minister … should read this book.”
Soft cover, 132pp.
Compact format: 1.12cm H x 17.88cm L x 12.9 cm W
ISBN 9781506494968
Fortress Press (2023).
[Allow 4-6 weeks]
Description
In a polarized political climate fraught with fear, nostalgia, and self-interest, this concise volume offers a prophetic counterpoint grounded in biblical witness.
Walter Brueggemann deftly responds to eight entrenched right-wing "truth claims" – ranging from distrust of government to rejection of science, nostalgia for a mythic past, glorification of inequality, and denial of universal healthcare.
Each chapter brings forward a biblical "echo" – prophetic insights, wisdom writings, and gospel narratives – that challenge these narratives and re-centers communal values like justice, mercy, and mutual care.
Though brief, the book is packed with theological precision and moral urgency. It compels readers – especially faith leaders and communities – to reclaim the pulpit as a place for cultural engagement and prophetic witness.
Whether it's Jeremiah's critique of profiteers, Sirach’s honoring of healers, or Jesus' examples of care without cost, Brueggemann weaves a robust framework for how scripture can inform and transform public discourse.
This is not a passive reflection but a call to action. It’s an accessible yet deeply challenging guide for anyone seeking to trust in "ancient echoes" when confronting the toxicity of modern political extremes.
An essential read for churches, seminaries, and anyone committed to justice grounded in faith.
About the Author
Walter Brueggemann was William Marcellus McPheeters Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary. He was one of today’s most influential biblical scholars, known for works like Prophetic Imagination and Old Testament Theology.
In Ancient Echoes, he continues his legacy of prophetic scholarship, engaging urgent cultural issues with rigorous exegetical clarity and moral conviction
Contents
