Bonhoeffer / Stephen Plant.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Plant, Stephen.

Series:

Outstanding Christian thinkers

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich, 1906-1945.

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich.

Physical Description:

xii, 157 pages ; 22 cm.

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : Continuum, 2004.

Summary:

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-45) is one of the best-known theologians of the twentieth century but is not often the best understood. Executed by the Nazis for his involvement in an attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler, his reputation and theology have, in turn, aroused controversy and admiration. This fascinating book sets Bonhoeffer's life and thought in the context of German history, the Church struggle and his intellectual inheritance. It introduces Bonhoeffer's theology and asks what consistent patterns can be found within it. In particular, Bonhoeffer's thought is explored from the perspective of ethics. What are Christian ethics and how do Christian ethics relate to non-Christian ethics? Can Bonhoeffer's theology contribute to contemporary ethics? What emerges from this critical engagement with Bonhoeffer's writings is an ethic in which Christians accept God's call to take responsibility for the world -- an ethic lived, in W. H. Auden's poignant phrase, within the 'silence on the cross'.

Contents:

1 Introduction: 'a silence on the cross' 1

2 A life in dark times 11

3 Bonhoeffer's theological inheritance 38

4 Self, community and revelation: building blocks of ethics 55

5 The Fall: the origin of Christian ethics 77

6 Following Christ 92

7 The ethics of responsible action 111

8 Ethics and the 'world come of age' 127

9 'Are we still of any use?' 139.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 151-155) and index.

ISBN:

082645089X

OCLC:

55122532