Anxious Souls Will Ask: The Christ Centered Spirituality of Dietrich Bonhoeffer

by John W. Matthews, Simon Vance (Narrator)

John Matthews has been captivated by Dietrich Bonhoeffer for thirty years, long before the film brought this modern Christian martyr back into the public eye. This book will take you into Bonhoeffer's struggle of terror and faith in his Letters and Papers from Prison. Guided by Matthews's keen mind and pastoral courage, you will be led past the crumbling pillars of worn religiosity to the hidden disciplines through which Christians live in difficult times. - David L. Tiede, Luther Theological SEMInary

Genres: Theology, History, Nonfiction, Religion

Audio CD

First published March 30, 2005

Reviews

[Sharon Hollis]

Having read this little book I wonder why I left it sitting so long on my bookshelf unread. It is an excellent introduction into what the prison writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer might have to say to contemporary church. This little book asks some excellent questions and left me hungry to read more Bonhoeffer (which can't be a bad thing)

[Janet]

Interesting from an historical perspective. And I wish it had been more biographical. But it was mostly his interpretation of Bonhoeffer's writings, which he deems to be beyond the layperson--too philosophical and high-level doctrine. I'd rather read Bonhoeffer myself. And I plan to once it's off my hold list. :-) Apparently, he's fairly popular.

[Jason]

The seed of this man would produce beautiful children. Ok, it was written by my father in law.

[David Savage]

Thought provoking and brilliant from a clergyman opposing the church and the Nazi's in the 30s and 40s. They executed him but didn't kill his ideas.

[Travis Sharpe]

This is a basic overview of some of Bonhoeffer's theological thoughts as revealed in his Letters and Papers from Prison. The insights are helpful, but if you are a reader of Bonhoeffer, there's nothing new that is added to previous thoughts or ideas. The outline for the book is slightly confusing. Good stuff, but not the first Bonhoeffer book one should try to read.

[Tim Wester]

Ok

[Pete]

This is a short summary of Bonhoeffer's theology of modernity. Who is Christ for us today? This is the question that doesn't go away once we find an answer, since we have to keep asking afresh each generation.
According to Bonhoeffer, Jesus isn't only for the extremes of life (suffering/death), but the center. In anxious times, Christ is the center. Famously, he prayed, “May God in His mercy lead us through these times; but above all, may He lead us to Himself.”
The book circled about three times through the crumbling pillars of modern society and Bonhoeffer’s suggestions. To summarize:
Pillar 1: Against individualism, the Church is “Christ existing as community.”
Pillar 2: Against otherworldliness, God is beyond in the midst of life.
Pillar 3: Against hypocritical evangelism, deeds speak louder than proclaiming words. Not institutional self-preservation but prayer and righteous action in the world.
Pillar 4: Against moral blame for suffering or religious action to avoid suffering, but walking with Christ amid suffering. Participation in God’s suffering in the world.
Pillar 5: Against religious immaturity, a world come of age from God's tutelage. Over-reliance on God for what God has given to humans to do is immaturity when we are called to responsible action—i.e. God doesn’t micromanage.

Other ideas:
Jesus is "the man for others" and we should be too [1 John 3:1].
Religion is humans reaching up to a distant God. Faith is God coming near to humans.
Discipline of the secret, not gnostic, but focused on following Jesus amid antichrists. In the Early Church, catechumens were gradually entrusted with the secret of Jesus. Proclaiming instead of marketing.

[Adam Shields]

Short review: I think the idea (that a pastor familiar with the academic study of Bonhoeffer would write about the theology of Bonhoeffer for the lay person) is a good idea. But I was put off by the narrator and I thought the focus of the book while interesting was not as successful as it could have been.

Full review at http://bookwi.se/anxious-souls-will-a...