...Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the Man For many years the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer have touched many lives in the Christian community. The impact he has had and continues to have in today’s society is incredible and the reason for this paper is to examine the merits of his work and to look at his life and his particular place in Christian history by closely examining his background and historical setting, and some of his more significant works. This paper will look into Bonhoeffer’s Cost of Discipleship, and Ethics, and his Prison Correspondence. These works are important in understanding the man and as a theologian and they give an accurate picture of what it was like to live back in those times as a Christian. Despite the numerous accounts of WWII that are out there are very few that give us an account from the perspective of a Christian and the hope that all Christians can share even in the darkest of times. But before we get into his works let us take a look at some of his background. Who was Dietrich Bonhoeffer? With every great hero there must be a great villain, and in the case of Bonhoeffer there was no greater villain than the Nazi party or specifically Adolf Hitler himself. Not many people realize this but when Nazism first started it was considered a Christian movement coming from the Lutheran Church. The Nazi party tended to get much of their beliefs from the sayings of Martin Luther in his later life. Because in Luther’s later life he did come to write many anti-semantic...
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...Triet Hoang Online Exhibitions The Carmelite friar Father Jacques de Je was born Lucien Bunel in 1900. He was headmaster of the Petit College Saint-Therese de l Enfant Jesus in Avon, France, which became a refuge for Jews andyoung men seeking to avoid conscription for forced labor in Germanyduring the Nazi .Father Jacques was sent to KZ Gusen I for trying to rescue several Jewish boys in Nazi-occupied France. He had enrolled 3 Jewish boys, Hans-Helmut Michel, Jacques-France Halpern and Maurice Schlosser, as students under false names in 1943 and hid others in the Couvent des Carmes of Avon . Jacques and the 3 Jewish boys were seized by the Gestapo on January 15, 1944. On February 3, 1944 the Jewish boys and another Jewish family were sent to KZ Auschwitz. After being sent to several other Nazi camps, Jacques arrived at KZ Gusen I around July 1944. Here he was forced to engage in the most difficult labor constructing a water-reservoir. He also worked on the final inspection command of "Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG" at KZ Gusen I (Georgenmuehle), where he labored alongside Louis, Jean Cayrol and Professor Roger Heim.According to his comrades, "P re Jacques" was a most optimistic person in the KZ Gusen commands and motivated many of his comrads to share their food and to believe in liberation. So, like "Papa Gruber" , he helped many survive.P re Jacques also gave his comrades spiritual support and even baptized some of them in KZ Gusen I. Young Polish comrades of his also testify...
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...The Bible: A Dogma or a Set of Guidelines? Dietrich Bonhoeffer Kayla Tremblay November 27, 2012 The Bible: A Dogma or a Set of Guidelines Dietrich Bonhoeffer November 27, 2012 I. Introduction a. Dietrich Bonhoeffer i. Biography ii. Christianity and War iii. Thesis: As demonstrated by Bonhoeffer in his war against socialism, religion cannot be looked at as a dogma and instead should be a malleable doctrine that is subjective to history. II. Body b. Christian Doctrines iv. Fundamental guidelines v. Use of the bible 1. Hitler a Christian? vi. No rules in war c. Moral Ethics vii. Ethics of Conviction vs. Ethics of Responsibility viii. Rationality d. Just War Theory ix. St. Thomas Aquinas x. Guidelines for a Just War xi. Just War is applicable e. What about Christians and Pacifists? xii. “Put your sword away” xiii. No such thing as a “Just War” III. Conclusion f. Summary xiv. Thesis: As demonstrated by Bonhoeffer in his war against socialism, religion cannot be looked at as a dogma and instead should be a malleable doctrine that is subjective to history. g. So what? xv. Accomplishments xvi. Interpretation xvii. Cost-benefit analysis Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor and theologian living in Germany during the time of Nazi...
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...but I never invested in the community provided. I started becoming involved in church my freshmen year of high school by going to all of the camps and attending church on Wednesdays and Sundays. Over time, my youth pastor convinced me to join a small group because it was a great opportunity to have fellowship with ladies my own age. Together we supported each other in our walk and developed true interpersonal relationships and became more than friends—but sisters in Christ. We also learned how important it is to be a part of a community with similar beliefs, but we never knew how lucky we were to be able to practice these things. To have fellow followers of Christ there to pray and encourage you is a blessing I never fully comprehended. Bonhoeffer explains that Christian community is gift. The following sentence opened my eyes to how thankful I should be about community: “It is grace, nothing but grace, that we are allowed to live in community with Christian brethren” (page 20). After reading the first 20 pages, I immediately felt guilty about my view on community. I took Christian communities for granted never once thinking about people in different countries that get persecuted for joining together for the sake of the gospel. When the typical high school or college student thinks of persecution, bullying may come to mind. Matthew 5:10 explains that “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” However, some people in different...
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...the 20th Century, it gives the responsibility of following Christ to the individual. “There is a cost of discipleship, anything else is Cheap Grace.” He used the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew to teach discipleship. Life Together. The stimulus for the writing of Life Together was the closing of the preacher's seminary at Finkenwalde. The book contains Bonhoeffer's thoughts about the nature of Christian community based on the common life that he and his seminarians experienced at the seminary and in the "Brother's House" there. Life Together was completed in 1938, published in 1939, and first translated into English in 1954. Letters and Papers from Prison (The first English translation was in 1953 by SCM Press). The writings from prison. Bonhoeffer was not even 40 years old when he became a martyr of the church. Yet, in his short life he provided a Christian witness for the ages. His understanding of the cost of being a follower of Christ is an example for us to follow. My fourth...
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...Bonhoeffer is not always viewed as a peaceful protestor because of his involvement in a plot to assassinate Hitler. Yet for most of his life, peaceful resistance was Bonhoeffer’s regular practice. He once arranged to meet with Mahatma Gandhi, the famous non-violent activist of India, but was unable to because of events in Germany. In 1933, when the Nazis took control of the country, Bonhoeffer was one of the few pastors who spoke openly against the government. He also refused Nazi demands to cease his work. He became a prominent voice in the “Confessing Church,” which was formed in opposition to the national church that had sworn allegiance to the Nazi party. Bonhoeffer further broke the law by leading an underground seminary for anti-Nazi church members. Bonhoeffer’s civil disobedience was a bit different than that of African Americans like Claudette Colvin and Rosa Parks. The African Americans’ Civil Disobedience was that of a people publicly protesting against the injustice of their circumstances. Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s peaceful resistance was not as public. He needed...
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...Dietrich Bonhoeffer is an exquisite man, whose theology was extremely influential. His theology shed a whole new light on the true meaning of Christ. By taking a look at Bonhoeffer's life in Germany, you can truly see how his life has greatly influenced his views and works. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran Pastor, a theologian, and a martyr. Bonhoeffer was brought up in Berlin, Germany in the upper-middle-class family of a leading neurologist. He studied Theology at the University of Berlin, where he eventually received his doctorate. As a student Adolf von Harnack, Bonhoeffer was highly influenced by the work of Karl Barth, who was a theologian and considered to be one of the most important Christian thinkers of the 20th century. Bonhoeffer studied with Reinhold Niebuhr, from 1930 to 1931 at the Union Theological Seminary in New York. Later, he returned back to Germany where he began teaching technology. Upon returning to Germany, Bonhoeffer became a student chaplain and youth secretary in the ecumenical movement. Bonhoeffer struggled with the Nazification of churches and the persecution against the Jews, which began in 1933. He was one of the founders of the Confessing Church, which consisted of Christians who resisted the Nazi domination. His involvement resulted in him being forbidden to teach at the University of Berlin. Bonhoeffer's resistance against Hitler, along with his Hitler assassination attempt, led to his imprisonment and eventually this all led to his...
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...LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY Humanity and the need for divine grace Submitted to Jonathan Pruitt, Teaching Assistant in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of Theo 510 – D06 Survey of Theology by Barbara A Servello May 8, 2015 Humanity and the need for divine grace in this day and age seems to be out of our grasps. The world and humankind seems to be in chaos. No one can see that it does not matter the color of skin, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, etc. that we are all made by God and for God. Pick up the newspaper and we see that our world is out of control. Many theologians have voiced their views on humanity and the need of grace over the years. Today I can see where we may question that humankind has been created in Imago dei, the image of God. “So God created humankind in his image.”[1] John Wesley stated that the image of God can be summed up in three dimensions; the natural image, the political image and the moral image. [2] I question John Wesley’s summation that the image of God can be summed up in the dimensions of natural, political, and moral image. I will explore through other theologians if this assessment is viable. I will also use those same theologians to assess the idea for humanity to need, want and receive grace from God. “The concept of the imago Dei has been widely recognized as central to a Christian understanding of human beings, yet the paucity of biblical...
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...LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY A Select Issue in Contemporary Theology: God-Is-Dead Theology Submitted to Dr. Lee Mitchell, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of the course THEO 510 – B01 Survey of Theology by Kevin Curtis July 1, 2014 Table of Contents Introduction/Thesis Statement 1 The French Revolution 2 Immanuel Kant Albrecht Ritschl Friedrich Nietzsce 3 Bultman Bonhoeffer Van Buren Hamilton Altizer Conclusion 4 Bibliography 5 Introduction/Thesis Statement One of the most difficult questions today posed to Christian believers is to prove the existence of God. It by all appearances seems that the Christian belief, far more than any other is under attack by groups who are opposing not just belief in God but also a direct attack on religious freedom. By religious freedom the author here does not focus on the right to choose your religion, but to practice it openly without fear of legal retaliation or of retaliation of any kind. The God-Is-Dead Theology is not a new belief but has existed since the late nineteenth century with its roots founded in statements made by Friedrich Nietzsche who lived from 1844 and died in 1900. The sole purpose of this paper is to show the historical workings of those “theologians” who created the God-Is-Dead theology, how it got its possible rise stemming from the events of...
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...LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY Writing Assignment 1 – Christ in Discipleship Submitted to Dr. Gary Waller in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of DSMN 500 – B03 Discipleship Ministries by David J. Miller May 29, 2016 Centrality of Christ in Christian discipleship Christian discipleship is to follow Jesus, to be his disciple, doesn’t mean community involvement and the veneer of tolerance. It means, mainly, first and central, to worship him — with joy at the heart. Making disciples of Jesus means gathering his worshipers. Discipleship starts with the heart, it is to have Christ at the center, to have His love, His Holy Spirit fill you, and guide you. To have Christ as the centrality of Christian Discipleship is the most important thing. The Apostle Paul describes it best in Colossians 3:1-11. “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath...
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...Introduction In this paper I will identify the five stages of discipleship according to the growth process described in the book DiscipleShift: Five Steps That Help Your Church To Make Disciples Who Make Disciples. These five stages are spiritually dead, spiritual infant, spiritual child, young adult, and parent. In addition I will also discuss what is called the Four Spheres of discipleship. Spiritually Dead The Apostle Paul described in Ephesians 2: 1-5 those who were dead in their sins and transgressions. These are people who have not accepted Christ as Savior, instead reject His sacrifice on the Cross. They sometimes claim to seek a God or Higher Power but there is no evidence of any relationship with God whatsoever. These people are what the authors call Spiritually Dead. In fact the author compares these people to dead men in a casket just waiting to decompose. When speaking to the “walking dead” the authors teach how to identify the common “phrase from the stage” in order to assess where a person is in their walk with God. These typical phrases are usually: * I don’t believe in God. * The bible is just a myth. * Religion is a crutch for the weak. * Christians are intolerant and homophobic. * There are many paths to God. (Oprah Winfrey & Joel Olsteen) * I don’t believe in hell. Or hell is on Earth. * My good deeds will save me from hell. * There is no right or wrong, ‘do what thou will’ Once a person is identified as spiritually...
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...LIBERTY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY Theology of Christian Leadership LEAD 520 – D01 LUO The Life of Leaders December 11, 2013 Table of Contents I. Introduction 3 II. What is Leadership 3 III. Christian Leadership 3 IV. Biblical Perspective 4 V. Servant Leadership 5 VI. Leadership Disciplines 6 VII. Conclusion 7 VIII. Bibliography 8 Introduction According to Bill Hull, “While certain pockets of evangelicalism have grown, overall, the church is in a decline. Many congregations can attest to Hull’s assessment, in that, churches in America are indeed experiencing sharp declines in its numbers of baptisms and church attendance. Over time we have produced a body of people that enjoy hearing the word of God preached and experiencing the supernatural presence of God. This is not enough, people must be taught, nurtured, and mentored toward living a transformed life reflecting the resemblance of the Lord, Jesus Christ. This paper will explore the importance of the role of leadership in developing leaders in the body of Christ. Leadership There are different definitions and different styles of leadership. Leadership can be viewed as the process of influencing other people to work together to accomplish a desired purpose. Dr. Michael Mitchell defines a leader as one who possesses a clear mission with an attendant vision, stands before others effectively conveying the message...
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...Professional Response: Culture & Society Concordia University-Portland Abstract The present paper provides a personal and well-reasoned reflection concerning the role of family, circles of trust and culture in my vocational life. It will also focus on how my ethical orientation is linked: 1) to my communal and cultural background, and, 2) how I think it is expanded by cross-cultural awareness. Societies vary in the amount they empower distinction and uniqueness versus congruity and reliance. Individualistic societies encourage confidence, choice making taking into account of individual needs, and the privilege to a private life. In collectivist societies, total dedication is relied upon in one's prompt and more distant family/tribe. The term woman's rights are regularly used to depict the prevailing social example where choice making techniques, stress the needs of the family/gather initially, and the idea of having a "private life" may not even exist. Since societies adjust and change, making suppositions about family progress is risky; families in the United States today from all societies show a mixed bag of arrangements. Apparently, there is no such thing as a "normal" family. One can nonetheless expect that families from more customary societies not acculturated in United States ways, will have a tendency to esteem, women's liberation and show family structures that are truly unique in relation to the white collar class European American family demonstrate Keywords:...
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...through the prophetic writings of the Old Testament, and the Lord commanded that it be spread throughout all the nations so that those who believe and have faith in God will be saved. The prophetic writings in the New Testament included the story that the Father would send his son who would save his people so they can live with him for eternity. In conclusion to Paul’s ideas of the gospel, it is now known that the gospel is a story of the revelation to the people of Jesus Christ who can save those who believe in him and have faith. It is also a story of his life, death, and resurrection. Dietrich Bonhoeffer also states that the gospel is a story of Christ by explaining that Paul “stress[es] the unity of the gospel of one Lord who lived, died and rose again.” Paul mainly writes about Christ’s presence and what he is doing in us rather than writing about Christ’s earthly life. Thus, Bonhoeffer might say that the gospel is a story of Christ’s presence and what he is doing in the lives of those who believe. When Jesus speaks about the gospel, most of the time he expands and uses the phrase “the gospel of the kingdom” or “the gospel of the kingdom of God.” This is repeated often in the books Matthew and Luke. In addition, when Jesus is preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, he is also healing those around him so they might believe. In Mark chapter thirteen, Jesus tells Peter, James, John, and Andrew that some day wars and destruction will come and people will deceive his followers...
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...Strodtbeck High School Social Studies Reading list Buchanan, Patrick J. Churchill, Hitler and The Unnecessary War. Available for purchase on Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/Churchill-Hitler-Unnecessary-War-Britain/dp/030740515X). Buchanan investigates the facts that led to WWII going back to European conflicts during the 19th Century. Useful for U.S. History, World History, Government, Economics. Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. 1859. Available at The Literature Network (http://www.online-literature.com/dickens/twocities/). A comparison of London and Paris during the era of the French Revolution. Useful for World History. Dickens, Charles. Oliver Twist. 1838. Available on The Literature Network (http://www.online-literature.com/dickens/olivertwist/). A view of life in London during the Industrial Revolution. Useful for World History, American History, Economics, Government. Dumas, Alexandre. The Count of Monte Cristo—Unabridged. 1844. Available at the Gutenberg Project (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1184/1184-h/1184-h.htm). This book provides significant insight into French culture, political and class rivalries that resulted from the French Revolution. Useful for World History. DiLorenzo, Thomas. The Real Lincoln. 2002. Available for purchase on Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/Real-Lincoln-Abraham-Agenda-Unnecessary/dp/0761536418). An investigation of the documented history of Lincoln's rise to the presidency and his conduct of...
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