Bonhoeffer, Religion and Politics: 4th International Bonhoeffer Colloquium

156 Pages·2012·0.604 MB·English

by  Christiane Tietz, Jens Zimmermann

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Bonhoeffer’s stance on political issues has been the focus of considerable I –
research. Insufficient attention has been given, however, to the theoretical
foundations of Bonhoeffer’s political theology, that is, to the fundamental )
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elements and concepts that shape his understanding of religion’s relation to
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politics. This volume aims to redress this oversight in Bonhoeffer studies.
The collected essays show how Bonhoeffer’s theological core convictions I
resulted in assumptions about the nature and goal of politics that remain (
relevant for today. The contributions to this volume document the 4th Interna-
tional Bonhoeffer Colloquium which took place in Mainz, Germany, in 2010
and was funded by the Fritz-Thyssen-Foundation. s
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Christiane Tietz is Professor for Systematic Theology at the University of me o
Mainz. She taught at the Universities of Tübingen, Heidelberg and at Union m B Bonhoeffer, Religion and Politics
Theological Seminary, New York City, and was Member in Residence at the Zi
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www.peterlang.de ISBN 978-3-631-63988-7 La I Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften
IBON 04-263988_Tietz_VH_A5HCk.indd 1 04.10.12 12:44:45 Uhr
International Bonhoeffer Interpretations
(IBI) – 4
Herausgegeben von
Stephen Plant (Cambridge),
Christiane Tietz (Mainz),
Ralf K. Wüstenberg (Flensburg),
Jens Zimmermann (British Columbia)
PETER LANG
Frankfurt am Main·Berlin·Bern·Bruxelles·New York·Oxford·Wien
Christiane Tietz / Jens Zimmermann (eds.)
Bonhoeffer, Religion and Politics
4th International Bonhoeffer Colloquium
PETER LANG
Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften
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Contents
Preface 7
1. Foundational Concepts for Understanding Politics 9
Clifford Green
Christus in Mundo, Christus pro Mundo. Bonhoeffer’s
Foundations for a New Christian Paradigm 11
Michael P. DeJonge
Bonhoeffer’s Concept of the West 37
2. The Church’s Relation to Politics 53
Philip G. Ziegler
Christ’s Lordship and Politics: Visser ‘t Hooft and Bonhoeffer 55
Barry Harvey
The Path of the Church’s Decision: Bonhoeffer on Church,
“Politics” and the State 81
3. Consequences for Political Action 99
Stefan Heuser
Bonhoeffer on the Renewal of Political Practices 101
Gotlind Ulshöfer
Bonhoeffer’s Understanding of Reality, Responsibility,
and Happiness as an Orientation for the Relationship between
Politics and Economics in a Time of Change 115
Eva Harasta
Christ Becoming Pluralist: Bonhoeffer’s Public Theology as
Inspiration for Inter-Religious Dialogue 133
Index 147
Appendix 149
Contributors 152
Editors of International Bonhoeffer Interpretations 155
Preface
Dietrich Bonhoeffer understood political engagement to be an essen-
tial part of his Christian existence and theological reflection. In his view,
Christ’s universal kingship and redemptive sacrifice for humanity obligates
Christians to political responsibility motivated by love of God and neigh-
bor. Like Luther, he could talk about political responsibility as contributing
to a believer’s sanctification (DBW 16, 532). His own life remains the best
attestation for his belief that an authentic human existence is marked by the
inevitable interrelation of religion (or what Bonhoeffer would have called
‘faith’) and politics. Indeed, Bonhoeffer’s integrative approach to human
existence and his positive assessment of religion’s role in politics is one
of the reasons why Bonhoeffer’s texts continue to be read and studied all
around the world.
Given Bonhoeffer’s own historical context of political resistance in Nazi
Germany, and given current political events that often involve religious
aspects, it is not surprising that much research has already been done on
several concrete aspects of the relation of religion and politics in Bonhoef-
fer’s work. Such studies have covered Bonhoeffer’s peace ethics, his theory
of justice, and his idea of the mandates. Research has been conducted on
Bonhoeffer’s personal participation in the political resistance, and on his
fight against the National Socialists’ treatment of Jews. Scholars have also
examined the application of his theological ethics to Apartheid, and to the
African-American civil rights. Not enough attention has been given, how-
ever, to the theoretical foundations of Bonhoeffer’s political theology, that
is, to the fundamental elements and concepts that shape his understanding
of religion’s relation to politics.
This volume aims to redress this oversight in Bonhoeffer studies. The
collected essays show how Bonhoeffer’s theological core convictions led
him to certain assumptions about the nature and goal of politics. The first
part of the book examines foundational lines of thought in Bonhoeffer’s
writings that are relevant for politics, namely Bonhoeffer’s new paradigm
of worldliness (Clifford Green), and the concepts of “the West” and of
“Abendland” (Michael DeJonge). The second part analyzes the Lordship
of Christ as the theological basis for the church’s relation to politics (Phil ip
G. Ziegler), and the modus vivendi between the church in its political
8 Preface
character and the political entity of the state (Barry Harvey). Finally, the
third part works out consequences of Bonhoeffer’s theology for political
action. These essays present first a new conceptualization of political ac-
tion inspired by Bonhoeffer (Stefan Heuser), then challenge the changing
financial and economic system with Bonhoeffer’s ethics (Gotlind Ulshöfer),
and finally use Bonhoeffer’s mandates as a source for a new model of in-
terreligious dialogue (Eva Harasta). All contributions are well aware of the
historical distance between Bonhoeffer and us, and their interpretations of
his work seek to remain faithful to the intentio auctoris. It is precisely this
kind of faithful reading, however, that makes Bonhoeffer’s theology an in-
spiration for theoretical as well as practical political questions today.
The essays in this volume derive from presentations at the 4th Interna-
tional Bonhoeffer Colloquium, which was organized by Christiane Tietz in
May 2010 in Mainz, Germany. The colloquium took place at the Institute
for European History, and was generously funded by the Fritz-Thyssen-
Foundation. It was part of the series of International Bonhoeffer Colloquia
which are organized by Stephen Plant, Christiane Tietz, Ralf Wüstenberg,
and Jens Zimmermann. The purpose of these Colloquia is the examination
of key ideas in Bonhoeffer in light of current political and cultural issues.
We hope that this volume contributes to that goal.
Christiane Tietz, Mainz
Jens Zimmermann, Langley, B.C.
June 2012
1. Foundational Concepts for Understanding Politics