I love the early academic theology of bonhoeffer, and im really interested in bonhoeffer studies, but i figured that a book couldnt be that interesting and ground breaking if so many fundamentalists love it. Dietrich bonhoeffer is one of the heroes of world war ii. Eric metaxis did extensive research in order to introduce us to a true hero of history. Bonhoeffer was killed because he was a traitor to hitler s government, which was lusting for a society populated with people just like him. Dietrich bonhoeffer works, a sixteen volume series, offers a fresh, critical translation of bonhoeffers writings, with introductions, annotations, and interpretations. Pastor, martyr, prophet, spy paperback aug 29 2011. But like hendrixs book on john brown, the presentation of bonhoeffer is complex. Bonhoeffer was also an important christian theologian who wanted the church to become actively involved in solving the worlds problems. His writings on christianitys role in the secular world have become widely influential, and his book the cost. Meyers book is the most detailed account of operation seven and bonhoeffer s involvement in it. Adolf hitlers nazi party is gaining strength and becoming more menacing every day. Vividly and concisely written, critical as well as appreciative, and containing material never before published in english, this new biography paints a memorable portrait of dietrich bonhoeffer, the great german theologian hanged by the nazis in 1945. There was in fact a third attempt to kill hitler, but bonhoeffer had already been arrested. Dietrich bonhoeffer and the plot to kill hitler by john hendrix isbn.
Hendrixs dynamic images complement the text, using green and red to indicate good and evil. Discovered to be one of the people behind the plot to assassinate hitler. Dietrich bonhoeffer, a pastor upset by the complacency of. Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at. Thererfore, he wrote as one who has stood for christ in tough times, and he knew that christ is ones only hope. This books inclusion of detailed illustrations, ample use of quotes, and the engaging narrative all contribute to a rich telling of dietrich bonhoeffers life. His books have been translated into more than twentyfive languages. The theologian dietrich bonhoeffer, a double agent claiming to spy for. Perfect for fans of suspenseful nonfiction such as books by steve sheinkin, this is a pageturning narrative about dietrich bonhoeffer, a pastor and pacifist who.
Dietrich bonhoeffer christian history christianity today. Bonhoeffer openly challenged his church to stand with the jews in their time of greatest need. Dietrich bonhoeffer, adolf hitler, and the judgment of god in interpreting a psalm about the vengeance of god, dietrich bonhoeffer confessed his sin and prayed for the salvation of adolf hitler. His writings on christianitys role in the secular world have become widely influential, and his book the cost of discipleship has been described as a modern classic. Recommended reading the dietrich bonhoeffer institute. The story of dietrich bonhoeffer jonathan varghese. Bonhoeffer was at home with his family during this attempt. The book combines words and images to address the moral dilemma. The state, according to romans, is given the sword to reward the good and to punish the evil.
I went into discipleship thinking that i would really hate it. The fact that he was killed by hitler s written order for his stand on these precise issues in germany, is the final testament and pressing incentive, to listen to this book. Dietrich bonhoeffer was a german theologian famous for his stand against adolf hitler and the nazi party. Dietrich bonhoeffer and the plot to kill hitler hendrix, john on. In the first part of the book, haynes recounts the history of bonhoeffer s reception by the american public through sketches he amassed in his 2004 volume the bonhoeffer. Dietrich bonhoeffer was a german evangelical pastor, theologian, antinazi dissident, and key founding member of the confessing church. Was dietrich bonhoeffer justified in joining the plot to. As his tactics were changing, he had gone to america to become a guest lecturer. Bonhoeffer writes about christians and the world we live in, a world of government, politics, labor, and marriage.
Despite my long reading list about bonhoeffer, i honestly, think that the faithful spy may have more clearly laid out how hitler rose to power than any other book on bonhoeffer that i have read. A graphic nonfiction account of hitlers wouldbe assassin the. He sent them a series of circular letters handsigned and handaddressed reporting on the activities and deaths of members of this circle, encouraging those remaining, and continuing their instruction. Bonhoeffer might take you down a peg, but he will always lift you higher than you were before. Not only did he preach gods word fearlessly, he spoke and actively resisted the evil of the nazi regime. In the midst of wickedness as dietrich sang the german national anthem, he contemplated the devastation hitler and the nazis were perpetrating on europe. Eric metaxas biography of dietrich bonhoeffer attempts three objectives. The german lutheran pastor dietrich bonhoeffer opposed the nazi regime and was executed for his involvement in a plot to kill adolf hitler.
The faithful spy and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. He was also a participant in the german resistance movement against nazism, a founding member of the confessing church. He sees no division be tween church, family, labor, and government. Dietrich bonhoeffer was a young german theologian who offered one of the first clear voices of resistance to adolf hitler. Eric metaxas discussed his book at the central queens y in forest hills, new york. Let me begin by distinguishing private citizen activity and military activity. Bonhoeffer died before completing his work but this book is recognized as a major contribution to christian ethics. We do not live in a vacuum, therefore, we must have concrete instruction in a concrete situation.
If youre willing to pay the cost of discipleship, this book is a gem. Eric metaxas recounts the life of lutheran pastor and author dietrich bonhoeffer 19061945. Was dietrich bonhoeffer wrong to plot against hitlers. On 9th april 1945, bonhoeffer along with abwehr were hanged after both were connected with the plot to kill hitler. The cost of discipleship compels the reader to face himself and god in any situation. Everyone should read this book to gain knowledge of world war ii, the sacrifices made and the importance of standing up. Pastor, martyr, prophet, spy april 2010, thomas nelson, by eric metaxas. The stimulus for the writing of life together was the closing of the preachers seminary at finkenwalde.
The author describesoften in bonhoeffer s own wordshow he came to believe that, as a christian, it was his duty to do anything possible to stop hitler, including killing him. As adolf hitler and the nazis seduced a nation, bullied a continent, and attempted to exterminate the jews of europe, a small number of dissidents and saboteurs worked to dismantle the third reich from the inside. Bonhoeffer, a lutheran pastor and theologian, took part in the plots being planned by members of the abwehr military intelligence office to assassinate hitler. Dietrich bonhoeffer s life and writings serve as a touchstone for all. While bonhoeffer was deeply engaged with the problems of christian life in hitler s germany. Dietrich bonhoeffer february 4, 1906 april 9, 1945 was a german religious leader and participant in the resistance movement against nazism. Life together, perhaps his most accessible work, was written out of his experience of living in community with pastors and those training for gospel ministry in 1930s germany, and is rightly viewed as a christian classic. Read 20 influential quotes by dietrich bonhoeffer and be inspired by these encouraging words. The book that bonhoeffer considered his most important theological work is now available in a form that makes its meaning and its context clear to englishspeaking readers.
This book, with dozens of illustrations by artist ron hill, highlights bonhoeffers background and theological education. Dietrich bonhoeffer s writings, speeches, thoughts and work always focussed on practicing what you preach. But bonhoeffer worked hard to maintain ties among the finkenwald seminarians and other confessing church pastors. The authors conclude that, although bonhoeffer was aware of various plots to kill hitler he knew of five assassination plots, out of the fortytwo documented by historians he himself was never an active participant in any of them. Patricia mccormick is a former journalist and a twotime national book award finalist whose books include cut, sold, never fall down, the plot to kill hitler. Dietrich bonhoeffer works, a sixteen volume series, offers a fresh, critical translation of bonhoeffer s writings, with introductions, annotations, and interpretations. His beliefs and convictions ultimately cost him his life in a nazi concentration camp. Bonhoeffer was appointed as a lecturer at the university of berlin by teaching systematic theology after he came back to germany in 1931. It is probable that more people have read books about dietrich bonhoeffer, than have read the books he actually wrote. Explore our editors picks for the best kids books of the month. Dietrich bonhoeffer wer bin ich filmausschnitt youtube. And what was a good german, a deeply religious and spiritual man, to do about it. This is a nonfiction work based on bonhoeffer s life.
Dietrich bonhoeffer author of the cost of discipleship. Bonhoeffer fit their imagined template of the pure german the aryan. Thank you eric metaxas for a book that gave me a better understanding of the evils of the third reich and that evil only prevails if good men remain silent, through his eyes. He had also spent time in one of the infamous concentration camps but he was eventually tried and executed when he was found to have been involved in a plot to kill hitler.
With the upper lens you read the metaxas of the book, an engaging narrative by an experienced writer who presents bonhoeffer as a christian hero led by god to struggle against an evil regime and against his wayward church. The theologian dietrich bonhoeffer, a double agent claiming to spy for hitler s reich, was actually involved in the resistance movement that planned a few of these plots. Apart from his theological writings, bonhoeffer was known for his staunch resistance to nazi dictatorship, including vocal opposition to hitlers euthanasia. Although the author died before completing his work, this book is recognized as a major contribution to christian ethics. Antinazi theologian dietrich bonhoeffer is hanged history. Dietrich bonhoeffer was a german lutheran pastor and theologian. Dietrich would do whatever he could to stop them, even if it meant pulling the trigger on the fuhrer himself. Why did the german church embrace adolf hitler and the nazi party. A graphic nonfiction account of hitlers wouldbe assassin. Antinazi theologian dietrich bonhoeffer is hanged on april 9, 1945, lutheran pastor and theologian dietrich bonhoeffer is hanged at flossenburg, only days before the american liberation of. Dietrich bonhoeffers role in multiple assassination attempts against.
This year brings the 65th anniversary of the nazi hanging of dietrich bonhoeffer for his attempt to overthrow adolf hitler, and that martyrdom is well knownbut metaxas illuminates, mile by mile, the road to full resistance. Bonhoeffer was an early foe of adolph hitler, and this book was published while he was being persecuted by the nazis. Dietrich bonhoeffer books biography and list of works. There is not a shred of evidence that bonhoeffer was linked in any way to these attempts on hitler s. A pastor who helped plot to kill hitler is now the hero of a graphic. It is an outstanding book about an inspiring christian with fascinating history to boot. Dietrich bonhoeffer was a german evangelical pastor, theologian, antinazi. World magazine our runnerup for book of the year is bonhoeffer. German federal archives bundesarchiv, bild 146198707416 190645. Was dietrich bonhoeffer wrong to plot against hitler s life. Bonhoeffer also became a part of a plot to overthrow, and later to assassinate, hitler. To them, he was the apotheosis of the human, the ideal human for the ideal community. The book reinforces my own visits study and silent.
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