Who Really Was Dietrich Bonhoeffer? Dr. Mark Thiessen Nation

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Mar 13, 2025

Dr. Mark Thiessen Nation, a Bonhoeffer scholar and theology professor, dives deep into the life and moral dilemmas faced by Dietrich Bonhoeffer during Nazi tyranny. The discussion uncovers Bonhoeffer's complex relationship with pacifism and his controversial involvement in assassination plots against Hitler. Nation also contrasts Bonhoeffer's ethical views with other theological frameworks, shedding light on the tensions between nonviolence and moral resistance. His insights provoke questions about how Bonhoeffer's legacy informs modern discussions on faith and justice.

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ANECDOTE

Conversion and Conscientious Objection

Mark Thiessen Nation's Christian journey began at 17 during a revival in a General Baptist Church.
He became a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War, influenced by his readings of the New Testament.

ANECDOTE

Discovering Bonhoeffer

Mark Thiessen Nation's interest in Bonhoeffer began with research on nonviolent resistance in Nazi Germany during his master's degree.
This research led him to explore the Confessing Church and Bonhoeffer's role within it.

INSIGHT

Bonhoeffer's Pacifism

The common narrative of Bonhoeffer as a pacifist making an exception for Hitler's assassination is inaccurate.
Bonhoeffer's pacifism is documented in his writings and affirmed by those who knew him.

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