Read more
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.
List of contents
Chapter 1 Introduction: The martyrdom of 'saint' Bonhoeffer.- Chapter 2 Bonhoeffer: All American hero?.- Chapter 3: Pacifism: The 'extraordinary' Sermon on the Mount.- Chapter 4 Bonhoeffer's turn to conspiracy: the 'extraordinary situation'.- Ch. 5 Political Theology and the State of Exception.- Ch.6 The Extraordinary situation and the State of Exception.- Chapter 7 The Obedient Existential Disciple.- Chapter 8 The limits of the extraordinary situation?.- Chapter 9: Bonhoeffer in a Crisis-World.- Chapter 10 Conclusion: Bonhoeffer the conspirator: a dangerous heroism?.
About the author
Petra Brown is a lecturer in philosophy at Deakin University, Australia.
Summary
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.
Report
"Petra Brown's book offers a new way of looking into Dietrich Bonhoeffer's deci[1]sion to conspire to kill Hitler and the subsequent public allure of it. ... Brown's book is an excellent addition to the voluminous Bonhoeffer literature." (Efren Alverio II, Evangelical Quarterly, Vol. 94 (3), 2023)
