Reclaiming Dietrich Bonhoeffer: The Promise of His Theology

by Charles Marsh

In this book, Marsh offers a new way of reading the theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Christian theologian who was executed for his role in the resistance against Hitler and the Nazis. Focusing on Bonhoeffer's substantial philosophical interests, Marsh examines his work in the context of the German philosophical tradition, from Kant through Hegel to Heidegger. Marsh argues that Bonhoeffer's description of human identity offers a compelling alternative to post-Kantian conceptions of selfhood. In addition, he shows that Bonhoeffer, while working within the boundaries of Barth's theology, provides both a critique and redescription of the tradition of transcendental subjectivity. This fresh look at Bonhoeffer's thought will provoke much discussion in the theological academy and the church, as well as in broader forums of intellectual life.

Genres: Theology, Christianity

216 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Marsh is professor of religious studies at the University of Virginia and director of the research community "Project on Lived Theology." He is the author of eight books, including "God's Long Summer: Stories of Faith and Civil Rights," which won the 1998 Grawemeyer Award in Religion. He lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.

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Reviews

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top 2 or 3. So so so good.

[J.I. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charles Marsh' book on Bonhoeffer's theology is arguably one of the best works in its genre. It is well written theology from beginning to end. If I could give it 6 stars I would. There is probably no better introduction to Bonhoeffer's thought in the way it deals with the formative influences, shaping patterns, and crucial innovations Bonhoeffer achieved in his short life-span. This is also immediately the reason why it is not recommended reading for the casually interested person who has heard something about a martyred theologian. Bonhoeffer is undoubtedly one of the best theologians of the 20th century who, with unsurpassable integrative skill and creativity, showed how God and world belong together, how the a priori of revelation is found in the midst of embodied reality. Bonhoeffer showed the way and then went ahead to live it out. Marsh shows with skill, comparable to that of Bonhoeffer, how and where and by whom Bonhoeffer was influenced and how, by means of a critique, he would rework that influence into a marvelous synthesis that even today helps theology to land on both feet. Marsh analyzes Bonhoeffer's intellectual relationships with Barth, Hegel, and Heidegger with great ease and facility. The result is a book that opens up the thought of Bonhoeffer, challenges the mind, and invites one to participate in doing theology in the mode that characterized Bonhoeffer's: a theology that exists solely for the world.

[Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A difficult journey but well worth the effort.