The Cambridge Companion to Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Cambridge Companions to Religion)

Rating:
Summary: A comprehensive exploration of the man and his theology.
Review: Cambridge Press and editor John W. DeGruchy have done a great service to those seeking a better understanding of this great theologian and pastor. Bonhoeffer began writing just as Hitler and the Nazis began their rise to power; his life ended by hanging in a concentration camp just days before the Allies arrived. Although his works stand as a powerful argument against the German church's surrender to the terror of Nazism, they are just as powerful and relevant today. The authors are noted Bonhoeffer scholars who share not only a deep respect for the man but a desire to help others understand and appreciate him. Each chapter is well-researched and scholarly, but readable and fascinating. The English-language bibliography is a great resource for further reading and research. This book is a must for everyone interested in learning more about one of this century's greatest theologians.

Rating:
Summary: A comprehensive exploration of the man and his theology.
Review: Cambridge Press and editor John W. DeGruchy have done a great service to those seeking a better understanding of this great theologian and pastor. Bonhoeffer began writing just as Hitler and the Nazis began their rise to power; his life ended by hanging in a concentration camp just days before the Allies arrived. Although his works stand as a powerful argument against the German church's surrender to the terror of Nazism, they are just as powerful and relevant today. The authors are noted Bonhoeffer scholars who share not only a deep respect for the man but a desire to help others understand and appreciate him. Each chapter is well-researched and scholarly, but readable and fascinating. The English-language bibliography is a great resource for further reading and research. This book is a must for everyone interested in learning more about one of this century's greatest theologians.

Rating:
Summary: A concise comprehensive review of Bonhoeffer and his beliefs
Review: I am beginnig a series of lesson s on Bonhoeffer and found this volume to be invaluable as a course material.

Rating:
Summary: a stunningly wretched book
Review: I use the word stunningly only semi-figuratively. This book purports to be a series of diverse explorations of a great theologian and martyr. It is nothing of the sort. We hear nothing from reformed evangelicals who regard Bonhoeffer as virtually apostate. Instead we have a collection of essays written by those who claim to pass as Lutherans and Anglicans (there is I believe one Roman Catholic) whose next claim to fame after violating the kerygma of Christianity will no doubt be to announce with pride that they are baptizing Dolphins. Consider the statement " People like Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi illustrate what Bonhoeffer means (p 118) All one has to do is to read the first page of Bonhoeffer's Ethics to realize that hypothetically however much he may have admired them they represent exactly the OPPOSITE of what Bonhoeffer means. Bonhoeffer is a LUTHERAN and a conservative one at that but these writers are using Bonhoeffer to suit their own agendas (which they concede has often been done) Don't read this book--read The Ethics or Act and Being--notice the influence of Barth. Bonhoffer deserves better than to be left in the hands of the "Honest to God" people. It might also be good to have a look at what Luther said as well.