Against the Wind: Eberhard Arnold and the Bruderhof [Paperback]

Markus Baum (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1998

The first-ever biography of an uncompromising revolutionary for Christ whose witness still reverberates around the world. Markus Baum, a prominent German journalist, presents Eberhard Arnold (1883-1935) as a role model for today's disaffected young generation.

Baum's highly readable account examines the forces that shaped Arnold's life. He recreates a colorful era when thousands of young men and women in Weimar Germany rejected conventional mores and struck out on a different path. Arnold, a young and aspiring writer and speaker, played a prominent role in this "Youth Movement," but later left the limelight to live the answers he had found, starting a small community based on Christ's teachings and example.

Against the Wind shows Arnold's wide-ranging influence on other spiritual leaders of his day, his lonely stand against the rise of Nazism, and his continuing legacy - the community movement he co-founded - which makes his life as relevant today as ever.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Baum, a youth conference speaker and host of a young adults' radio program, provides an engaging biography of a revolutionary Christian in early 20th-century Germany. Inspired by religious vision and forced by his father to study theology, Arnold moved increasingly away from the state church, inspired an antibourgeois youth movement, and founded a community based on "common table, community of goods, communal work" but dedicated to marriage and to children. Arnold also influenced Barth, Tillich, and Buber and opposed Hitler. He is hence an important figure for both historians and scholars of contemporary religious thought, but this first biography on him is accessible and enjoyable reading for general audiences as well. Recommended for public, seminary, and academic libraries.ACarolyn M. Craft, Longwood Coll., Farmville,
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

A fine introduction to Eberhard Arnold and the courageous ministry of the Bruderhof. A wave of appreciation for Arnold and the Christian tradition he so forcefully and eloquently represents is long over due. -- Harvey Cox, Harvard University Divinity School

An amazing and enlightening spiritual journey. -- ALA Booklist

Arnold is a significant figure of faith in the twentieth century. His vision and commitment to discipleship, community, nonviolence, and God's kingdom challenge all who seek to follow Jesus. -- Jim Wallis, Sojourners, from the Foreword

Arnold's life reads like that of a modern Saint Francis: the deep love of Jesus, the commitment to living the Gospel literally, the struggle with his parents, his going off to war, followed by a profound conversion to nonviolent love and his founding of the Bruderhof Community... Like Saint Francis, Arnold let Christ teach him what he was to do. The example of their lives challenge us to do the same. -- Fr. Murray Bodo, O.F.M.

Eberhard Arnold's life is an example of the most precious gift we can offer others: our presence. His is a testimony that in community the Spirit, which can be found in all traditions, can enlighten us as to the real causes for social injustice. We all, Buddhist and Christian alike, need to create more such communities. -- Thich Nhat Hanh, author, Love in Action

I was edified and enlightened by this extraordinary life. I took heart, reading of Arnold's tormented struggle and conversion to nonviolence...Pondering his witness is like holding a mirror to reality. We see there our calling, the church, the promise of a costly freedom. -- Daniel Berrigan, SJ

Some claim that the Sermon on the Mount cannot be literally applied to modern life. This inspiring biography of Eberhard Arnold is a convincing rebuttal. This twentieth century apostle truly lived the Gospel; his story inspires us all to do the same. --Robert Ellsberg, author, All Saints

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 310 pages
• Publisher: The Plough Publishing House (May 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874869536
• ISBN-13: 978-0874869538
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,309,489 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fresh perspective, March 24, 2000

By 

"joemck" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Against the Wind: Eberhard Arnold and the Bruderhof (Paperback)

This book will be significant for those who want to learn more about the life of Arnold and the spirit that moved him. To my knowledge this is the first biography of Arnold written by a non-Bruderhof author. I like Baum's fresh perspective.Orbis Press has also just come out with another fine book entitled Eberhard Arnold that readers of this book should look at. It is part of their Spiritual Masters series.