Moral Dilemmas in Nazi Germany

In this episode of The Rise of Bonhoeffer, we delve into Dietrich Bonhoeffer's life from the collapse of his seminary to his imprisonment, focusing on his involvement in anti-Nazi conspiracy and failed assassination attempts on Adolf Hitler. Bonhoeffer's internal and external struggles under the oppressive Nazi regime are explored, including his banishment from Berlin, the closure of his seminary by the Gestapo, and the imprisonment of his students. His moral quandaries, including whether to serve in Hitler's army, his bonds with his family, and his eventual involvement in the anti-Nazi resistance, are discussed. The conversation demythologizes aspects of Bonhoeffer's legacy, providing historical clarity on his roles in Operation Seven and his non-involvement in direct assassination plots. To close, we look at his ethical struggle in his 'After 10 Years' letter, illustrating Bonhoeffer's enduring commitment to Christ in a time of cataclysmic moral challenge, making him a complex and unfinished hero of history.

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Featured Scholars in this Episode

Victoria J. Barnett served from 2004-2014 as one of the general editors of the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, the English translation series of Bonhoeffer’s complete works. She has lectured and written extensively about the Holocaust, particularly about the role of the German churches. In 2004 she began directing the Programs on Ethics, Religion, and the Holocaust at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum until her retirement.

Elanor McLaughlin is Tutor in Theology at Ripon College Cuddesdon, with a focus on doctrine and ethics. She holds theology degrees from the University of Oxford (BA and DPhil) and the University of Geneva (Maîtrise en Théologie). Her research interests include the life and thought of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, theological anthropology and disability theology.

Michael DeJonge is Professor and Chair of the Religious Studies department, where he teaches about the history of Christian thought, theories and methods in religious studies, and religion in modern society. He’s been teaching at USF since earning a Ph.D. in Religion from Emory University in 2009.

Barry Harvey is professor of theology in the Religion Department as well as in the Great Texts program of the Honors College here at Baylor University. Among other specialties, Barry is a Bonhoeffer scholar, exploring Bonhoeffer’s thought in classes, articles, and a book titled Taking Hold of the Real: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Profound Worldliness of Christianity. He has served on the Board of the International Bonhoeffer Society, English Language Section, and the Editorial Board of the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works.

Di Rayson is Senior Lecturer in Theology and Ethics at Pacific Theological College in Suva, Fiji and is an ecotheologian and Bonhoeffer scholar, having published widely. Her first book was Bonhoeffer and Climate Change: Theology and Ethics for the Anthropocene. Di is an Anglican lay preacher, singer and cellist. When in Australia she lives on a small farm between the mountains and the sea.

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