Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Christian Pastor and Theologian assassinated by the Nazi's in 1945 because of his work against the Third Reich. His life and theology continue to inspire contemporary theologians and political activists, play-writes and film makers. This module provides a critical examination of Bonhoeffer's life, theology and spirituality with particular reference to the history of the Weimar Republic, the rise of Hitler and Nazism, the Confessing Church and the German resistance movement. It goes on to critically assess Bonhoeffer's contribution to contemporary discussion of a range of theological and ethical issues including Christology, Community and Discipleship, Poverty, Pacifism, and Ecology.

·        Articulate and discuss the basic contours of Bonhoeffer's life and theology;

·        Critically discuss the fundamental arguments of his major theological works;

·        Critically evaluate selected topics, demonstrating an awareness of their relation to other aspects of his work;  

·        Identify and discuss the socio-political and theological contexts in which Bonhoeffer worked;

·        Engage in critical evaluation of the relationship of theology, ethics and spirituality;

Critically assess the contemporary relevance of Bonhoeffer's theological and ethical legacy.

The module will be taught through lectures, group discussion, film, and e-learning. In addition to tutor led material students will be expected to critically engage with a number of key theological texts and prepare materials for discussion. All students will be expected to make an assessed presentation during the module. The module will be supported by material and tools on Learning Central Students will be able to submit formative drafts of their final essay work to their tutor for feedback.

Academic:

• critical analysis of key texts and ideas
• critical evaluation of the interaction of theology, biography, spirituality and ethics
• constructing coherent arguments supported by relevant evidence
• independent research
• oral, visual and written presentation

 Subject-specific:

• engagement with central themes of Bonhoeffer's theology
• critical analysis of key texts
• competence in critiquing the relationship of theology and ethics  

 Generic:

• organisation of time and resources
• independent study
• critical evaluation
• presentation skills

Students will be expected to submit 1 x 3,000 word assignment (75%) and prepare an assessed presentation for class discussion (25%).

The written assignment develops the student’s ability to engage in a detailed and critical discussion of a major doctrinal or ethical theme. A formative essay plan can be submitted in January for individual tutor comment. The completed essay is then formally submitted for summative assessment by the agreed end of year deadline.

The class presentations  will be delivered in the latter part of the course. These will develop the student's ability to engage in individual research and offer visual and oral presentations and facilitate subsequent critical class discussion.

The following areas will form the syllabus content of the course.

·         Examination of the biography of Bonhoeffer, particularly his personal response to the changing socio-political contexts in which he worked;

·         Critical evaluation of key texts: Sanctorum Communio, Christology, Life Together, Discipleship, Ethics. Letters and Papers from Prison;

·         Detailed exploration of key themes in Bonhoeffer's life and work, such as Christology, Community, Discipleship, Ecumenism, Spirituality, and Martyrdom. Additionally there will be a detailed examination of the relationship between Church and State and the Ethics of Responsible Action in a World come of Age, including topics, such as racial and economic justice, pacifism and ecology; 

·         Discussion on how changing social contexts, particularly Nazism and War impact on Bonhoeffer's theology;                                                                               

·         Critical evaluation of early interpretations of Bonhoeffer's Work;

·         Analysis of the on-going inspiration found in Bonhoeffer for contemporary theologians, ethicists and activists.

SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY

Primary Material

Critical editions of all of Bonhoeffer’s writings are now published in the 16-volume series

Dietrich Bonhoeffer Werke (DBW) with translations of each volume (DBWE) by Fortress Press.

Volume 1 Sactorum Communio: A Theological Study of the Sociology of the Church,

Volume 2 Act and Being: Transcendental Philosophy and Ontology in Systematic Theology,

Volume 3 Creation and Fall,

Volume 4 Discipleship,

Volume 5 Life Together, and The Prayerbook of the Bible: An Introduction to the Psalms,

Volume 6 Ethics,

Volume 7 Fiction from Tegel Prison,

Volume 8 Letters and Papers from Prison,

Volume 9 The Young Bonhoeffer: 1918-1927,

Volume 10 Barcelona, Berlin, New York: 1928-1931,

Volume 11 Ecumenical, Academic and Pastoral Work: 1931-1932,

Volume 12 Berlin: 1933,

Volume 13 London: 1933-1935,

Volume 14 Theological Education at Finkenwalde: 1935-1937,

Volume 15 Theological Education Underground: 1937-1940,

Volume 16 Conspiracy and Imprisonment: 1940-1945, 

Secondary Material

Bethge, Eberhard. Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Biography. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2000.

De Gruchy, John W., ed. Bonhoeffer for a New Day: Theology in a Time of Transition. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997.

-----.                              The Cambridge Companion to Dietrich Bonhoeffer. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1999.

                                        Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Witness to Jesus Christ, (Minneapolis: Fortress, 1991)

Dramm, Sabine. Dietrich Bonhoeffer: An Introduction to His Thought. Peabody: Hendrickson, 2007.

Dumas, André. Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Theologian of Reality. New York: Macmillan, 1971.

Feil, Ernst. The Theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1985.

Floyd, Wayne W., and Charles Marsh, eds. Theology and the Practice of Responsibility: Essays on Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Valley Forge: Trinity Press  

                                                             International, 1994.

Frick, Peter, ed. Bonhoeffer's Intellectual Formation: Theology and Philosophy in His Thought. Tübingen: Mohr-Siebeck, 2008.

Godsey, John D. The Theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1960.

Green, Clifford J. Bonhoeffer: A Theology of Sociality. Rev. ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999.

Haynes, Stephen R. The Bonhoeffer Legacy: Post-Holocaust Perspectives. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2006.

----- The Bonhoeffer Phenomenon: Portraits of a Protestant Saint. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2004.

Kelly, Geffrey B., F. Burton Nelson The Cost of Moral Leadership: The Spirituality of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,  2003                                                                                                                                                                                        

Klassen, A. J., ed. A Bonhoeffer Legacy: Essays in Understanding. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,1981.

Marsh, Charles. Reclaiming Dietrich Bonhoeffer: The Promise of His Theology. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994.

Metaxas, Eric. Bonhoeffer, Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy: Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2011

Ott, Heinrich. Reality and Faith: The Theological Legacy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. London: Lutterworth, 1971.

Pangritz, Andreas. Karl Barth in the Theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000.

Phillips, John A. The Form of Christ in the World: A Study of Bonhoeffer's Christology. London:Collins, 1967.

Plant, Stephen. Bonhoeffer. London: Continuum, 2004.

Plant, Stephen, and Ralf K. Wüstenberg, eds. Religion, Religionlessness and Contemporary Western Culture: Explorations in Dietrich  

                                                                          Bonhoeffer's Theology. Oxford: Peter Lang, 2008.

Pugh, Jeffrey C. Religionless Christianity: Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Troubled Times. London: T. & T. Clark, 2008.

Rasmussen, Larry L. Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Reality and Resistance. 2nd ed. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2005.

Robertson, Edwin H. Bonhoeffer's Heritage. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1989.

Schlingensiepen, Ferdinand, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 1906-1945: Martyr, Thinker, Man of Resistance. London: T and T Clark, 2010

 Slane, Craig J. Bonhoeffer as Martyr: Social Responsibility and Modern Christian Commitment. Grand Rapids: Brazos, 2004.

Tödt, Heinz Eduard. Authentic Faith: Bonhoeffer's Theological Ethics in Context. Ed. Ernst-Albert Scharffenorth. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2007.

Young, Josiah Ulysses, III. No Difference in the Fare: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Problem of Racism. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.

Zimmermann, Wolf-Dieter, and Ronald Gregor Smith, eds. I Knew Dietrich Bonhoeffer. New York: Harper & Row, 1966.