DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to introduce the student to the life and Christian thought of the German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-45). Bonhoeffer's principal writings will be examined, with particular attention given to the context in which they appeared. We will also attempt to assess critically Bonhoeffer's Christian thought and his contribution to contemporary theology, the church, and the life of the believer in the modern world.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Bonhoeffer advanced a stunning--and enduring--critique of modern Christianity, which continues to exert considerable influence long after his death. The study of Bonhoeffer and his writings, therefore, will assist a student to develop an understanding of how Christianity can respond to the presence of evil and suffering in the world, and how the church can advance an authentic witness amid the increasingly unique and complex pressures of modernity.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: This course will (1) enhance the student's basic factual and thematic knowledge of the life and thought of Dietrich Bonhoeffer; (2) help students gain a basic competence in how to interpret that thought in its unique historical context; (3) help students gain a greater ability to evaluate various theological issues and their development; and; (4) provide students with the tools and knowledge for a critical and sympathetic appreciation for the breadth, unity and diversity of Bonhoeffer's theological contribution.

COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet daily for two weeks in four-hour sessions. Class sessions will be devoted to lecture, discussion, question and answer, and student presentation (final session).

REQUIRED READING (1285 total pages):

Wind, Renate, and John Bowden. Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Spoke in the Wheel. Eerdmans, 1992. 802806325. (180 pages) (Note: Pre-reading assignment.)

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Discipleship. Fortress, 2003. 0800683242. (198 pages)

__________. Ethics. Touchstone, 1995. 068481501X. (366 pages)

__________. Letters and Papers from Prison. Touchstone, 1997. 0684838273. (419 pages)

__________. Life Together. HarperSanFrancisco, 2003. 0060608528. (122 pages)

Class Handouts. (Note: pages from Class Handouts do not count toward the 1285 page reading requirement.)

Bethge, Eberhard. Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Biography. Rev. ed. Fortress, 2000.

DeGruchy, John, ed. The Cambridge Companion to Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Cambridge, 2004.

1. Required reading (Pass/Fail)

2. Class attendance and participation (20%)

3. Two, 10-page research papers on some aspect of Bonhoeffer's life or thought (topic to be approved by the instructor) (60% total; 30% x 2)

4. Small-group presentation (20%)