Belmont University welcomed noted author and speaker Walter Brueggemann to campus on Oct. 23 for a convocation lecture titled, “God’s Justice for the Poor.”
An expert on bringing the insights of the Old Testament to bear on contemporary issues of economic justice, nationalism and militarism through his 75 books, Brueggemann spent the hour engaging students in a discussion on the economic structure of society in Biblical times between the ideals under Pharaoh and the neighborly structure seen in Deuteronomy.
He advocated for a “mixed system” society – one that combines strategies from the capitalistic approach and the neighbor friendly one.
“Jesus thought neighbors related to neighbors related to neighbors could be transformative,” Brueggemann said.
The lecture ended with audience participation as students stood around the room and engaged in a dialogue surrounding the assigned questions regarding the state of the economy and the applicability of these ideals to the system we live in.
Brueggemann’s lecture tied in with the University’s 2011-2012 theme of Wealth and Poverty. This academic year, many academic lectures and programs explore the origins and effects of wealth and poverty as well as the social and ethical implications of each.
