Topic 6 - Bonhoeffer Flashcards
what does bonhoeffer mean by duty to god and duty to state?
the state must realise it is accountable by god’s will
e.g. plot to kill hitler
what does bonhoeffer mean by obedience to god’s will?
traditional christian teaches that there’s two kingdoms that of the political sphere and that of god
“give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s and to god what is god’s”
bonhoeffer says all must respect the state until they go against god’s will which will be known in the moment
what does bonhoeffer mean by justification of civil disobedience?
christians have a ‘responsibility to the state’
if it is the case that the state is making ‘reasonable people face unreasonable situations’ then such disobedience is necessary
what is bonhoeffer’s confessing church?
reaction to nazification of the protestant clergy in the german christian movement
In 1934 the confessing church issued the barmen declaration with karl barth
the declaration states a christians primary duty is to christ and should reject any teaching not revealed by christ
in his final days he became disillusioned by the confessing church stating - ‘the church is her true self when she exists for humanity’
finkelwade?
after returning from USA in 1935 he set up finkelwade which was a training camp for pastors to the confessing church
DISCIPLINE - discipline of one self in relationship with others which leads to action, the life at finkelwade was basic
MEDIATION - discipline is developed through mediation as the foundation of prayer
BIBLE - debate the bible develops understanding
what did bonhoeffer mean by ‘brotherhood’ and ‘community for others’ in regards to finkelwade?
BROTHERHOOD - the community is bound together by love of christ sustained by the holy spirit. The leader should change frequently to not become stuck in their ways
COMMUNITY FOR OTHERS - insisted that the church is a community of the forgiven not of the righteous because no one is perfect. As Christ died for all not just christians
what does bonhoeffer mean by ‘ethics as action’?
barth taught bonhoeffer that we do not find god but god chooses to reveal himself to us
bonhoeffer said ethics is action and is liberating, “only in jesus christ do we know what love is, namely, in his deed for us” (ethics)
what is cheap and costly grace?
CHEAP = the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance
COSTLY = bonhoeffer going on from Luther felt religion itself was a human invention and so believed in only christ, scripture and faith to free religion from political use. This made it costly grace as one’s life has to be given and devoted to christ.
what does bonhoeffer mean by sacrifice and suffering?
“theology of crisis”
teaches that crisis of human sinfulness can only be overcome by God’s judgement (krisis in greek) and faith in his grace and redemption through Jesus Christ
what does bonhoeffer mean by solidarity?
jesus went on the cross to stand in solidarity with others through pain
jesus was “the man for others”
ESSAY PLAN - CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
POINT 1 -
P1 – OBEY THE STATE AND ACT PEACEABLY (LEADERSHIP/ OBEDIENCE)
A: Obedience to the state
• Bonhoeffer was in conflict as he knew the Nazi regime opposed the will of God, but Luther had taught it was the duty of a Christian to be obedient to the government, as the government controlled our sinful nature. (Mark 12 “render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s”)
ESSAY PLAN - CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
POINT 1 - counter argument
CA: Danger of human ideologies (Nazism)
• No obligation to the state that rests outside of obedience to God’s will
• Letters while in prison 1944 considers place of religion in secular world – believed the Western world was a world “come of age”; disregarding religious superstition and tradition, but created “Western void” filled by dangerous ideologies (Nazism)
• Warned against ideologies such as Nazism – allows humans and the State to justify principles and practise that subordinate justice and God’s will. Critical of autonomous ethics – reduces God to human principles and makes humans slaves to the ideas of others
ESSAY PLAN - CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
POINT 1 - counter response
R: CD defies societal community/ leadership
• Bonhoeffer was wrong to break from Lutheran ideals which saw Church and State as two sides of the same coin, Romans 13 “Let everyone be subject to governing authorities, for there is no authority expect that which God has established”
ESSAY PLAN - CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
POINT 1 - conclusive response
CR: Leadership vs. leader
• Leadership (community) over leaders (tyrants) – leadership focuses beyond the leader (God), leaders (Hitler) focus on themselves and are divorced from community. “Virtually impossible to give a rational basis for the nature of a leader”
• Confessing Church as a counterpart to Nazi-aligned Protestant Churches in 1930s. Barth produces Theological Declaration of Barmen 1934:
o Importance of Christ and denial of any other leader’s authority opposition to civil oath towards Hitler.
o “if you find we are speaking contrary to scripture, then do not listen to us!” – reason perverts God’s will
o Church and State separate
ESSAY PLAN - CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
POINT 2
P2 – PURSUE JUSTICE NON-VIOLENTLY (CHEAP GRACE/ SUFFERING)
A: Justice for minorities peaceably
• “Those who live by the sword, die by the sword” (
