Stephen Plant

In this enlightening discussion, Stephen Plant, Dean at Trinity Hall, and Christiane Tietz, Professor of Systematic Theology, explore Karl Barth, a towering figure in 20th-century theology. They delve into Barth's radical shift from liberal theology, emphasizing divine revelation over human understanding. The conversation highlights Barth’s fierce resistance against Nazism, including the creation of the Barman Declaration. They also examine his complex relationships and the implications of his views on grace, showcasing his lasting impact on modern Christian thought.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ideas and life of the German theologian, born in Breslau/Wroclaw in 1906 and killed in the Flossenbürg concentration camp on 9th April 1945. Bonhoeffer developed ideas about the role of the Church in the secular world, in particular Germany after the Nazis took power in 1933 and demanded the Churches' support. He strongly opposed anti-Semitism and, with a role in the Military Intelligence Department, took part in the resistance, plotting to kill Hitler and meeting with contacts in the Allies. Bonhoeffer's ideas on Christian ethics and the relationship between Christianity and humanism spread more widely from the 1960s with the discovery of unpublished works, including those written in prison as he awaited execution.With Stephen Plant Dean and Runcie Fellow at Trinity Hall at the University of CambridgeEleanor McLaughlin Lecturer in Theology and Ethics at the University of Winchester and Lecturer in Ethics at Regent’s Park College at the University of OxfordAnd Tom Greggs Marischal Chair of Divinity at the University of AberdeenProducer: Simon Tillotson