And what do they say in this catechism? Having framed the discussion a little earlier by talking about “self-preservation,” they begin this section by asking: “But doesn’t one have to destroy life in war?” The answer: “For that very reason the church knows nothing of the sanctity of war. For in war, the struggle for existence [Dasein] is fought with a dehumanized means. The church that prays the Lord’s Prayer calls to God only for the cause of peace.” They continue, “But isn’t that unpatriotic?” Bonhoeffer and Hildebrandt answer that God uses the state for the service of God. And in the midst
...more
