- Investigates the theological and political ideas of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
- Explores the political implications of Bonhoeffer's popularity with evangelical Americans
- Critically analyzes Bonhoeffer's writing during and preceding his conspiracy involvement
Buy this book
- About this book
-
Theologian. Conspirator. Martyr. Saint. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was killed in the waning days of World War II, having been implicated in the July 20th assassination attempt on Hitler. Since his death, Bonhoeffer’s life and writings have inspired contradictory responses. He is often seen as a model for Christian pacifist resistance, and more recently for violent direct political action. Bonhoeffer’s name has been invoked by violent anti-abortion protestors as well as political leaders calling for support on a ‘war on terror’ in the aftermath of 9/11. Petra Brown critically analyses Bonhoeffer’s writing preceding and during his conspiracy involvement, particularly his recurring concept of the ‘extraordinary.’ Brown examines this idea in light of ‘the state of exception,’ a concept coined by the one-time Nazi jurist and political theorist, Carl Schmitt. She also draws on the existentialist philosopher Sören Kierkegaard to consider what happens when discipleship is understood as obedience to a divine command. This book aims to complicate an unreflective admiration of Bonhoeffer’s decision for conspiracy, and draws attention to the potentially dangerous implications of his emerging political theology.
- About the authors
-
Petra Brown is a lecturer in philosophy at Deakin University, Australia.
- Table of contents (10 chapters)
-
-
Introduction: The Martyrdom of ‘Saint’ Bonhoeffer
Pages 1-11
-
Bonhoeffer: All American Hero?
Pages 13-34
-
Pacifism: The ‘Extraordinary’ Sermon on the Mount
Pages 35-56
-
Bonhoeffer’s Turn to Conspiracy: The ‘Extraordinary Situation’
Pages 57-78
-
Political Theology and the State of Exception
Pages 79-100
-
Table of contents (10 chapters)
Recommended for you
Bibliographic Information
- Bibliographic Information
-
- Book Title
- Bonhoeffer
- Book Subtitle
- God’s Conspirator in a State of Exception
- Authors
-
- Petra Brown
- Copyright
- 2019
- Publisher
- Palgrave Macmillan
- Copyright Holder
- The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
- eBook ISBN
- 978-3-030-05698-8
- DOI
- 10.1007/978-3-030-05698-8
- Hardcover ISBN
- 978-3-030-05697-1
- Edition Number
- 1
- Number of Pages
- XV, 206
- Number of Illustrations
- 1 b/w illustrations
- Topics
