Ethics

Rating:
Summary: Ethical Living
Review: Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) was a rare individual. He transcended the human plane as he practiced what he taught. This is his last writing, and it is unfinished because he was executed in prison for living the ethics he preached. In this book, Bonhoeffer states, "Ethics as formation, then, means the bold endeavor to speak about the way in which the form of Jesus Christ takes form in our world, in a manner which is neither abstract nor casuistic, neither programmatic nor purely speculative." Partly because his theology would not allow a speculative ethic, Bonhoeffer returned from the safety of New York City to a Germany ruled by the insanity called National Socialism. There, he became a leader, along with Martin Niemueller and Karl Barth, in the "bekennende Kirche" opposing National Socialism and an advocate on behalf of Jewish People. His efforts earned him imprisonment in 1943. As the Second European War (1939-1945) came to a close, Bonhoeffer was hanged until dead in the concentration camp at Flossenburg. Dietrich Bonoeffer understood the cost of discipleship. I think that this book has something to offer people who have faith, regardless of creed. It is written by someone of strong convictions, and is inspiring to me as I develop my own ethical standards. It is not easy to develop a spiritual relationship in a temporal world. Reading "Ethics" increased my resolve and desire to try. If you are interested in learning about Christianity and ethics from someone who lived what he taught, this book will be interesting to you.

Rating:
Summary: Ethical Living
Review: Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) was a rare individual. He transcended the human plane as he practiced what he taught. This is his last writing, and it is unfinished because he was executed in prison for living the ethics he preached. In this book, Bonhoeffer states, "Ethics as formation, then, means the bold endeavor to speak about the way in which the form of Jesus Christ takes form in our world, in a manner which is neither abstract nor casuistic, neither programmatic nor purely speculative." Partly because his theology would not allow a speculative ethic, Bonhoeffer returned from the safety of New York City to a Germany ruled by the insanity called National Socialism. There, he became a leader, along with Martin Niemueller and Karl Barth, in the "bekennende Kirche" opposing National Socialism and an advocate on behalf of Jewish People. His efforts earned him imprisonment in 1943. As the Second European War (1939-1945) came to a close, Bonhoeffer was hanged until dead in the concentration camp at Flossenburg. Dietrich Bonoeffer understood the cost of discipleship. I think that this book has something to offer people who have faith, regardless of creed. It is written by someone of strong convictions, and is inspiring to me as I develop my own ethical standards. It is not easy to develop a spiritual relationship in a temporal world. Reading "Ethics" increased my resolve and desire to try. If you are interested in learning about Christianity and ethics from someone who lived what he taught, this book will be interesting to you.

Rating:
Summary: Ethics - More than just about theories for ethical living.
Review: Dietrich Bonhoeffer's book on "Ethics" reveals an underlying message that runs deeper than just a "how to" guide on ethical behavior. This message is that Jesus Christ was more than a prophet, more than an enlightened man and more than a guide for life. Mr. Bonhoeffer understood that Jesus Christ was his personal savior from sin and his only key to eternal life with God, the I AM, Jehovah, Adonai Elohim of Jewish history recorded in the bible, i.e. Holy Scriptures. Without knowing God in the person of Jesus, humanity has no empowerment to know unconditional love and the resulting ethical behavior that Mr. Bonhoeffer so eloquently reveals as a result of that love. This book has weaved within the surface of conscious law, the redemptive work of Christ as payment for the sin of the world, and our resulting praise in ethical living no longer demanded by God, but now offered in thanks to Him. If you are looking for an enhanced understanding of our position in God's spiritual kingdom while on earth, then "Ethics" (with support of Holy Scriptures) offers a marvelous insight into that ethical position. It has revealed many truths in my own life that now afford me better understanding and opportunity to align my life with that of Jesus Christ. It is true that you will gain a deeper understanding of humanity's spiritual nature, but if you allow the Holy Spirit to deepen your faith, you will also come to know a love of God beyond measure, as Dietrich Bonhoeffer found fulfilled in the life and teachings of Jesus. Blessings!

Rating:
Summary: Ethics - More than just about theories for ethical living.
Review: Dietrich Bonhoeffer's book on "Ethics" reveals an underlying message that runs deeper than just a "how to" guide on ethical behavior. This message is that Jesus Christ was more than a prophet, more than an enlightened man and more than a guide for life. Mr. Bonhoeffer understood that Jesus Christ was his personal savior from sin and his only key to eternal life with God, the I AM, Jehovah, Adonai Elohim of Jewish history recorded in the bible, i.e. Holy Scriptures. Without knowing God in the person of Jesus, humanity has no empowerment to know unconditional love and the resulting ethical behavior that Mr. Bonhoeffer so eloquently reveals as a result of that love. This book has weaved within the surface of conscious law, the redemptive work of Christ as payment for the sin of the world, and our resulting praise in ethical living no longer demanded by God, but now offered in thanks to Him. If you are looking for an enhanced understanding of our position in God's spiritual kingdom while on earth, then "Ethics" (with support of Holy Scriptures) offers a marvelous insight into that ethical position. It has revealed many truths in my own life that now afford me better understanding and opportunity to align my life with that of Jesus Christ. It is true that you will gain a deeper understanding of humanity's spiritual nature, but if you allow the Holy Spirit to deepen your faith, you will also come to know a love of God beyond measure, as Dietrich Bonhoeffer found fulfilled in the life and teachings of Jesus. Blessings!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent but incomplete work
Review: I imagine many of you reading this have read _The Cost of Discipleship_. Having just completed _Ethics_, I feel it is a superior work. I was constantly challenged as I was reading to rethink many of my assumptions about ethics from a Christian perspective. The portion at the end about "telling the truth" is alone worth the price of the book.

A couple of difficulties I had were that many sections were left incomplete with a bare outline to indicate where he was heading. Also, some of the latter portion of the book was very heavy on historical Lutheran wrtings, of which I am quite unfamiliar.

It was certainly stimulating for me as an american to read a quite different perspective on some issues, e.g. submissive relationships. It is typical in this country for people to feel that all rules should apply equally to all. Of course this is absurd when applied to parent/child or teacher/student or ruler/subject relations. Since ethics has to do with how people act towards other people, the actual type of relationship involved has to play a role in how to think about ethical behaviour from one individual to another.