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 students' 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 and theological 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 that will enable them to gain 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 (1200 total pages required from the following):