Dietrich Bonhoeffer - Philosophy and Ethics
Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-45)
German minister and theologian (pictured right) who fought Nazism and eventually hanged for his support of the
attempted assassination of Adolf Hitler in
1944.
What did he say about philosophy
and ethics?
1. Faith and morality
He did what God wanted him to do,based on:
- selflessly serving other people’s needs
- the loving example of Jesus.
But don’t be dogmatic, because what is right or wrong will depend upon your
situation.
For example, it is right to kill to defeat an evil like Nazism.
This was a particularly difficult decision for him, because he was a pacifist who hated violence.
Evil people like Hitler (pictured right)
are particularly dangerous, because evil affects everything they do.
“What is worse than doing evil is being evil”, he said.
2. Courageous action
He believed that you should earn God’s approval (or grace) by fighting for what is right, even
if it hurts you (what he called “costly grace”).
He abhorred “cheap grace” i.e. thinking you can win God’s approval by doing
nothing and accepting evil ,as German Christians did with Hitler.
Bonhoeffer:
- openly attacked Nazi anti-Semitism
- risked his own life, helping Jews escape to Switzerland.
3. “Religionless Christianity”
This is based on faith and love, not the trappings of religion
like church politics and dogma.
God is not up in heaven but part of our lives, continually prompting us to do good and defeat evil.
Prayer isn’t a telephone line to God in heaven, but the means to:
- reflect on ourselves and the world
4. Influence
He has inspired many people to fight for justice against evil including Nelson Mandela (pictured right).
Religionless Christianity , has had a huge impact. It was popularized by the Bishop of Woolwich, John
Robinson’s (pictured right below) 1963 book, Honest To God.
Key quote on
empowerment
Action springs not from thought but from a readiness for responsibility.
Key quote on peace of
mind
There is no way to peace along the way to safety. For peace must be dared.
Key quote on
objectives
If you board the wrong train, it s no use running along the corridor in the other direction.
Key quote on
leadership
The leader who makes an idol of himself and his office makes a mockery of God.
Key quote on influencing
people
The weak are always forced to decide between alternatives they have not chosen themselves.
Key quotes on happiness and
love
In normal life we hardly realize how much more we receive than we give; life can be rich only with such
realization.
When we come to a clearer and more sober estimate of our own limitations and responsibilities that makes it
possible more genuinely to love our neighbour.
Key quote on time
management
Time lost is time when we have not lived a full human life, time unenriched by experience, creative endeavour,
enjoyment and suffering.
Key quote on
ethics
What is worse than doing evil is being evil.
Key quote on God and
religion
Cheap grace is the mortal enemy of our church. Our struggle today is for costly grace.
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