Customer Reviews

Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Reality and Resistance

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The author sets out to show that the changes in Bonhoeffer's Pacifism was not a turn around in his ethical or theological thinking, but an expansion of both ethical and theological interpretation that was at the heart of Bonhoeffer's earlier work. His search through the writings of Bonhoeffer plus interviews and writings of contemporary leaders and friends shows us in some detail how changing contemporary Social Patterns and Leadership had much to do with his re-thinking and actions and how those actions fitted in with his ethics and theology as written works. While some difference of opinion on these "adjustments" or "Changes" can be held, the author has written a very thorough analysis of Bonhoeffer through both his written works, both early and late. He also does a good job of showing how his actions follow his ethics and theology. This is a good academic study that is readable.

Rasmussen and I come from radically different theological standpoints. Nonetheless, this is a helpful book on Bonhoeffer's ethics and Christology. I disagree with some of his conclusions and am saddened that he doesn't interact with Bonhoeffer's early theology much. But I enjoyed reading this work. My only critique is that Rasmussen doesn't seem satisfied with anyone's methodology but his own. His critique of Bonhoeffer and a few other scholars in this work is that their methodology was off. This argument can work once, but when you're making that statement across the board, maybe it's your own methodology that needs to be examined. However, this is still a good contribution to Bonhoeffer studies.