tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post4831285282151973696..comments2024-03-25T13:40:30.747-04:00Comments on Faith and Theology: On reading BonhoefferBen Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800127501735910966noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-24484085697692706172010-12-31T06:28:16.843-05:002010-12-31T06:28:16.843-05:00Regarding the recent Metexas bio of Dietrich Bonho...Regarding the recent Metexas bio of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, I stumbled across the international DB scholar Clifford Green's scathing review of Metaxas'book. The Review is entitled "Hijacking Bonhoeffer", October 05, 2010. Green affirms the positive in the book but then highlights some serious concerns. I do have the Metaxas book but am working my way through Schlingensiepen's bio of DB. Check it out!James Chaousisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-4208169907489159832010-06-26T16:41:53.671-04:002010-06-26T16:41:53.671-04:00I'm currently working my way through Bethge...I'm currently working my way through Bethge's biography of Bonhoeffer. I find myself continually fixated by how little separation there is between his theology and his life.The Goat's Opinionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17513134864779802096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-87719997247618666472010-06-24T22:13:17.869-04:002010-06-24T22:13:17.869-04:00Just this last year I had the experience of realiz...Just this last year I had the experience of realizing that I was probably not a Christian while reading Fear and Trembling. Shortly afterwards I started Barth's <i>Romans</i> and it has been the only thing to shake me into understanding how truly tragic and condemned the world is, but how we truly worship a God who will redeem this creation.<br /><br />JonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-37399921725773573282010-06-23T19:00:26.483-04:002010-06-23T19:00:26.483-04:00Yeah Kim, yours is my other favourite Barth story....Yeah Kim, yours is my other favourite Barth story. I've often thought about your story alongside Stout's, as the two legitimate responses to reading Barth.<br /><br />The only thing that ought to be ruled out is the "bored and pious" attitude described by Rowan Williams (in his poem "The Great Sabbath"):<br /><br />And, bored and pious, talk of mystery, <br />When weeds are choking up his tomb.Ben Myershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03800127501735910966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-85638924058435876102010-06-23T17:28:56.407-04:002010-06-23T17:28:56.407-04:00I'm Stout's Other: I read Barth's Roma...I'm Stout's Other: I read Barth's <i>Romans</i> during the autumn of 1976 and - KABOOM! - I'm a Christian. I also have a date penned (about a year later) on p. 448, next to the commentary on <b>Perhaps there is one that preacheth</b> - "The theme of the clergy is the disturbance which has been prepared by God for men, and the promise which He has given them" - and KABOOM II - I could no longer ignore the pestering of my local church. Then in 1978 I bought and read <i>Letters and Papers from Prison</i> (John Godsey wrote that "almost everything Bonhoeffer wrote was written with Barth in mind") - KABOOM III. The two books are my personal <i>ad fontes</i> - and the pebbles I can't seem to dislodge from my shoes. <br /><br />Mind, I'm still pissed off that God didn't call me to the Major Leagues. Instead he sent me to the home of cricket. You couldn't make it up.<br /><br />Finally, I could really use some valium, as rictus is now setting in over the concept of the "fitness" to teach theology.kim fabriciusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-65364022982797580942010-06-23T16:36:37.006-04:002010-06-23T16:36:37.006-04:00I'd wondered something similar in relation to ...I'd wondered something similar in relation to St. Symeon, who, crudely, says that one shouldn't talk about God without experiencing God (rather a good trump card for him, of course). But we can't all be like Symeon (and maybe Bonhoeffer), or at least, we are not even if we could be. So maybe there's space for lesser theologians. Signs pointing to signs pointing to God...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-84067649059113087002010-06-23T04:16:00.035-04:002010-06-23T04:16:00.035-04:00Perhaps "JESUS, THOU JOY OF LOVING HEARTS&quo...Perhaps "JESUS, THOU JOY OF LOVING HEARTS" is about pursuing theology.<br />If you turn people to God (unfilled though they be) then you've done your job.Fatnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-49372677047399765882010-06-23T03:59:43.250-04:002010-06-23T03:59:43.250-04:00The Jeffrey Stout anecdote is just something I'...The Jeffrey Stout anecdote is just something I've heard from people who know Stout. Apparently he was a good church-going liberal Protestant, but as a student he read Karl Barth's dogmatics, and realised that he wasn't really a Christian. So he had the honesty to stop going to church. I reckon it's one of the most impressive stories about Barth's theology that I've ever heard — it's exactly the right response to Barth's theology (the other possible response would be conversion).<br /><br />So I guess I find Bonhoeffer confronting in a similar way: reading him (a <i>real</i> theologian), I realise that I'm not really fit to teach theology. Maybe I'm just not as honest or as morally serious as Stout.Ben Myershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03800127501735910966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-7627457115700710932010-06-23T02:43:28.729-04:002010-06-23T02:43:28.729-04:00Ben, you can't leave us dangling like that. Wh...Ben, you can't leave us dangling like that. What does Bonhoeffer say that makes you think about quitting theology?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-69061092447774793402010-06-22T21:39:24.030-04:002010-06-22T21:39:24.030-04:00And I'm curious to know what kind of "hon...And I'm curious to know what kind of "honest job" you consider finding after reading Bonhoeffer. Did no one else trip over that line? I must admit I've read very little Bonhoeffer. Could you expand on how he makes you question the honesty of your current profession?Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01328208631699986801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-21853045444375622232010-06-22T09:27:18.303-04:002010-06-22T09:27:18.303-04:00I'm also curious about the Stout reference. Wh...I'm also curious about the Stout reference. Where does he say this? I'd be curious to find out the context.Adrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17376678732915410232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-33464576578237144862010-06-22T07:58:41.575-04:002010-06-22T07:58:41.575-04:00Should be working so I'll keep it brief...
I ...Should be working so I'll keep it brief...<br /><br />I can still remember the very first time I read Bonhoeffer's letters from prison. They bristled with a vitality, intellect, passion and relevance that I have very rarely encountered since. <br /><br />His religionless Christianity is still something that inspires and challenges me. <br /><br />Good for you, encouraging others to engage with him. <br /><br />I am LOVING this site...Martyn J Smithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-65089303229824367132010-06-21T23:37:45.144-04:002010-06-21T23:37:45.144-04:00Right now I'm reading Letters and Papers From ...Right now I'm reading Letters and Papers From Prison, and I have these in a stack: the Ethics, complementary writing on Ethics, and Fiction From Prison. <br /><br />If you manage to write up your Bonhoeffer sermon, please post it!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04371015966379614244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-56502138181316774762010-06-21T14:34:41.845-04:002010-06-21T14:34:41.845-04:00You've probably read it, but I really enjoyed ...You've probably read it, but I really enjoyed McClendon's treatment of Bonhoeffer in his <i>Ethics</i>, particularly his account of the "tragedy" of Bonhoeffer's choice in the end in relation to the lack of any coherent or real alternative community.Brad Easthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09342341127122254107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-89747633463493902022010-06-21T14:28:27.189-04:002010-06-21T14:28:27.189-04:00I've read several reviews of Metaxas' book...I've read several reviews of Metaxas' book, and they seem to be mixed. For those unfamiliar with Bonhoeffer, it's a great place to start, but the impression seems to be that - even though its over 500 pages - the book focuses more on the aspects of Bonhoeffer's life that the author resonates with, and is somewhat less nuanced than it should be. (Nothing can touch Bethge's bio!) Still, it seems that it has created a lot of new interest in Bonhoeffer's life and thought, and for that I am thankful!<br /><br />G.Geoff Darganhttp://gdargan.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-60923311397762377312010-06-21T11:47:53.743-04:002010-06-21T11:47:53.743-04:00I'm a doctoral student working in Bonhoeffer&#...I'm a doctoral student working in Bonhoeffer's theology and am spending the summer reading all of those texts as well. I’m about 1/3 of the way through the Metaxas volume and I can see what everyone’s on about. It’s a comprehensive biography but it's not written for the academy. Which, I'm guessing, is why it's not been received particularly well as an academic text (the Schlingensiepen text has been very well received). Metaxas's effect is subtle, mostly in his adjective use, but he’s definitely not concerned about sounding unbiased. It’s also quite interesting to see ‘how’ he’s writing it with the public in mind and not the scholar. Various words are randomly left in German (it’s always impressive!) and he doesn't seem to have any rhyme or reason as to what gets left in German and what gets translated into English. <br /><br />Metaxas also seems to place a lot of emphasis on Bonhoeffer’s visit to Rome for his theology (specifically his ecclesiology), and he seems to see a lot of influences very early on in his life. As it is now, he seems to be rooting an awful lot in his childhood. I guess it'll be interesting to see how he develops the "picture" of Bonhoeffer through the rest of his life.Joe McGarryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09969120938537482393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-51328836868694633302010-06-21T10:22:28.040-04:002010-06-21T10:22:28.040-04:00Ben,
Good to hear you are enjoying Bonhoeffer.
...Ben,<br />Good to hear you are enjoying Bonhoeffer. <br /><br />I wrote a review for Christianity Today's Books & Culture periodical (geared toward evangelical academic types).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.booksandculture.com/articles/webexclusives/2010/june/bonhoeffer.html" rel="nofollow">Books & Culture online review of Metaxas’s Bonhoeffer</a>—see also University of Virginia's Charles Marsh’s comment.<br /><br />and before that I wrote on my blog<br /><a href="http://www.andyrowell.net/andy_rowell/2010/05/book-recommendation-bonhoeffer-pastor-martyr-prophet-spy-by-eric-metaxas.html" rel="nofollow">Some initial informal comments on Metaxas’s Bonhoeffer and Bonhoeffer's corpus.</a>Andy Rowellhttp://www.andyrowell.net/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-5996936302271188702010-06-21T10:03:59.637-04:002010-06-21T10:03:59.637-04:00I would be curious to hear what your take on Metax...I would be curious to hear what your take on Metaxas’s efforts rescue Bonheoffer from the “Liberals”. Was Bonheoffer a “confessional Lutheran”? or (as I suspect) does he transcend these categories.<br />Cheers<br />Steve in TorontoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-47214662128851980062010-06-21T08:55:28.233-04:002010-06-21T08:55:28.233-04:00I know it's not the point, but why exactly did...I know it's not the point, but why exactly did reading Barth make Jeffrey Stout stop going to church?Mike Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-76149680925293760892010-06-21T08:04:39.294-04:002010-06-21T08:04:39.294-04:00John, that quote is from Lawrence.John, that quote is from Lawrence.Ben Myershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03800127501735910966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-46378981707523245682010-06-21T07:40:48.527-04:002010-06-21T07:40:48.527-04:00I get so irritated at publishers. I have several ...I get so irritated at publishers. I have several of Bonhoeffer's books, but none of the new Fortress ones. I had been waiting to buy them until I finished Metaxas book. I know Amazon had them all for kindle a couple weeks ago. Now only Discipleship and Ethics are available for Kindle. Looked at Barnes and Noble and they have three others, but not Discipleship or Ethics. Why publishers play around with books like this? I am even willing to pay the ridiculous ebook prices of $14.99 for the ebook (when I can get paper for the same price.)Adam Shieldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05229134548808669954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-81960624692551633212010-06-21T07:35:07.319-04:002010-06-21T07:35:07.319-04:00Bonhoeffer is definitely a very preachable saint!
...Bonhoeffer is definitely a very preachable saint!<br /><br />I haven't read the Metaxas bio, but a friend of mine put up a quick review here:<br /><br />http://imclaren.wordpress.com/2010/04/17/bonhoeffer-by-eric-metaxas/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-67924584213058035502010-06-21T07:23:56.154-04:002010-06-21T07:23:56.154-04:00It is a good but not perfect biography. Could use...It is a good but not perfect biography. Could use a little editing, but overall it was a good bio. I hadn't heard of the other bio you mentioned. I will pick it up too.Adam Shieldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05229134548808669954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-65676532618464973082010-06-21T07:11:13.449-04:002010-06-21T07:11:13.449-04:00"The church [is] the place where the life of ..."The church [is] the place where the life of Christ is being created in history by the work of the Holy Spirit."<br /><br />Love it. Is that a direct quote from Bonhoeffer, or Lawrence's distillation?John Hhttp://www.confessingevangelical.comnoreply@blogger.com