Christian moral action

Question 1

Quote from Bonhoeffer about taking action

Answer 1

Silence in the face of evil is itself evil […] God will not hold us guiltless

Question 2

Give a brief summary of Bonhoeffer’s life

Answer 2

1906- Born in Germany
Hi mother valued the traditions of Lutheran Christianity (although the family were not church goers)
Studied theology
When at uni in Berlin, he began to support a radical reform in Christianity, believing the church should challenge the state in cases of injustice
1930- travelled to America, admired the vibrant and charismatic worship in the black churches
1930s- Critical of the leadership principle Hitler represented, and decided to return to fight the Nazi regime (as it aligned with his principles)
1943- arrested and imprisoned
1945- executed in a concentration camp

Question 3

Quote from Bonhoeffer about preventing injustice

Answer 3

‘we are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the very wheel itself’

Question 4

Give a brief summary of events occurring in Germany at the time

Answer 4

The majority of the population was Christian
1933- Pope Pius XI signed a concordat with Hitler (the Catholic Church and Nazi party would not interfere with each other)
1937- Agreement ends- Hitler arrests priests and closes the Catholic Youth movement to open the Hitler Youth
Pope Pius condemned Hitler’s actions in a statement entitled Mit brennender Sorge (with burning anxiety)
1937-9- Controlled the Protestant churches, calling them the National Reich Church
A Nazi became bishop the church
New hymns and prayers
Mein Kampf replaced the Bible, and the swastika replaced the cross

Question 5

Define the state

Answer 5

The government/ political leaders

Question 6

Define civil disobedience

Answer 6

breaking the laws of your State because you morally disagree with them

Question 7

Quote about duty to state

Answer 7

‘Let very person be subject to their governing authorities’

Romans 13:1

Question 8

What is duty to state?

Answer 8

The idea that everyone should follow the rules and laws of their country
It is tradition that Christians do have duty to state

Question 9

What is duty to God?

Answer 9

The idea that everyone should follow God’s laws and commands
This sometimes conflicts with a Christian’s duty to state, making it difficult to know which to prioritise

Question 10

Why did Bonhoeffer reject ethics based purely on human ideologies?

Answer 10

They are extensions of human ideas to justify power over others

Question 11

Did Bonhoeffer believe the state should have absolute power?

Answer 11

No, as it consists of humans who can never ben fully right or fully wrong. It causes self-importance, and undermines God as the state puts itself above God

Question 12

How did Bonhoeffer think we should approach duty to the state?

Answer 12

We should be obedient to the state, however always check that it doesn’t stray from God’s will, because then we should intervene. The church should remain separate, only intervening when the State is going against God’s will.

Question 13

Explain Bonhoeffer’s views on leadership

Answer 13

Leadership is fully justifiable and a part of the community. A ‘leader’ is much more personal. Bonhoeffer was amazed people chose for Hitler to be their leader, as he was so imperfect

Question 14

What word means the killing of a leader, and what was Bonhoeffer’s views on it?

Answer 14

Tyrannicide

This may be a Christian duty as it establishes social order, and not to act may be an even greater evil

Question 15

What did Bonhoeffer mean by true discipleship?

Answer 15

Complete and utter obedience to God without question, putting your duty to Him above absolutely everything and everyone else

Question 16

Quote from Bonhoeffer about true discipleship

Answer 16

‘Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life’
All will be saved, but in order to deserve it you must give up absolutely everything to follow God

Question 17

Explain how Bonhoeffer used Jesus’ analogy of the salt

Answer 17

True followers must act like salt, preserving the world from evil and preventing its corruption by sin
It enhances flavour, as Christians must enhance society, spreading goodness throughout

Question 18

Explain how Bonhoeffer used Jesus’ analogy of the light

Answer 18

‘You are like light for the whole world […] No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl. [..] Your light must shine before people so that they will see the good things you do’
It is the Christian duty to shine a light on injustice, spread goodness and set an example through action that will inspire others to do the same. Faith inside is nothing without expressing it and making it visible through action

Question 19

How did Bonhoeffer distinguish between faith and religion?

Answer 19

Faith- a belief and trust with in God
Religion- the institutions and power structures through which faith is practiced
Christianity should return to a focus on faith
‘No rusty swords’- No outdated ethical attitudes should be practiced in Christianity

Question 20

What were Bonhoeffer’s ideas about grace?

Answer 20

Cheap- God will save everyone, and so people carry on with what they are doing as they trust they will be saved
Costly- Grace has to be truly earned, you must sacrifice everything to follow God and commit your entire life to him

Question 21

What were Bonhoeffer’s ideas about solidarity?

Answer 21

In order to sacrifice everything, you must suffer with those who are suffering, ‘adopting the cross’ and forcing yourself into discomfort as a true disciple. You must seek out the oppressed and suffer with them

Question 22

Suggest why some may believe Bonhoeffer puts too much emphasis on suffering

Answer 22

Bonhoeffer’s experiences of suffering is. to representative of all Christians, as he lived in a time of great suffering
Christianity offers so much joy and hope, focussing on triumph over sin. Christianity isn’t all about suffering
Impossible to follow if you live in a place of peace and justice, it is dependant on the existence of suffering
Some of the worst sins don’t cause suffering, over indulgence in pleasure such as drugs, greed, pre-marital sex

Question 23

Explain why some may believe Bonhoeffer’s emphasis on suffering is important

Answer 23

Everyone experiences suffering at some point
The focus on solidarity will help people feel consolation, and therefore strength and hope
Even if you don’t feel great suffering in your life, there are always places where suffering can be seeked out

Question 24

Explain the movement set up by Bonhoeffer and Niemoller

Answer 24

Pastor’s emergency league- to go against Hitler’s requirements and preach the true message of Christianity
It then became known as the Confessing Church
in 1934- the Barman Declaration set the Confessing Church against Nazism
Bonhoeffer set up a community in Finkenwalde to teach true Christianity away from Hitler’s ideology.
The community was shut down in 1937 as the Himmler Decree declared the training of the Confessing Church illegal

Question 25

Suggest why some may believe Christians should practice civil disobedience

Answer 25

Duty to God should be put above duty to state
Christians should seek justice for the oppressed
Jesus broke the laws of his land eg feeding disciples on the Sabbath
Jesus criticised rule worshippers eg Jesus in Temple
Jesus stood up for the vulnerable and preached kindness through action
Civil disobedience may be God’s will

Question 26

Suggest why some may believe Christians shouldn’t practice civil disobedience

Answer 26

Jesus said you should follow the laws of your government
Christianity places importance on rules eg 10 commandments
The Bible teaches peace
Christians are just people and therefore should follow the law like everyone else
Humans are incapable of knowing God’s will and therefore shouldn’t assume God’s wishes
Justice will come in the next life

Question 27

Suggest why some consider Bonhoeffer’s theology relevant to today

Answer 27

There are still many vulnerable groups suffering today
God’s will hasn’t changed
There are still tyrants and dictators
OS and free will means suffering will always exist
BLM- example of relevance to his teachings

Question 28

Suggest why some may consider Bonhoeffer’s theology irrelevant to today

Answer 28

Suffering isn’t as prominent
Other methods such as giving to charity are more accessible
Showing everyone how good you are (ref bowl analogy) would be frowned upon in todays society
Today’s government doesn’t conflict God’s will and so following his theology would result in unnecessary violence

Question 29

Suggest why some believe it is possible to know God’s will

Answer 29

The Bible is a direct, infallible message from God
Jesus, as God’s revelation, taught and revealed God’s will
Natural law - innate ability to understand God’s will

Question 30

Suggest why some believe it is impossible to know God’s will

Answer 30

Epistemic distance
John Hick’s ideas of pluralism- humans have a flawed perception of God
The otherness of God
Christian teachings have changed and contradicted each other
Religion is a human construct and therefore fallible
OSand Barth- humans are too corrupt to understand God’s will