Christian Moral Action - DCT Flashcards
Who was Dietrich Bonhoeffer?
A Lutheran pastor and theologian who opposed the Nazis and was executed for his role in a plot to assassinate Hitler.
What was the Confessing Church?
A Church founded in opposition to Hitler’s state-controlled German Evangelical Church.
Why was the Confessing Church formed?
To reject Nazi interference in the Church and affirm the Bible as the sole source of revelation.
What was Finkenwalde?
An illegal seminary where Bonhoeffer trained pastors in secret.
What was Bonhoeffer’s role in the resistance?
He helped communicate between the British government and the German resistance.
What did Bonhoeffer believe Christians must do during oppression?
Act against evil and share in the suffering of others in solidarity.
What influenced Bonhoeffer to return to Germany from America?
A sense of solidarity; he felt he must share in the trials of his people.
What did Bonhoeffer say about knowing God’s will?
It is uncertain; we must act responsibly with faith, risking being wrong.
Why is responsible action central to Bonhoeffer’s ethics?
Because human methods like reason and conscience can fail in a fallen world.
What does Bonhoeffer say about traditional ethics?
They failed to stop evil like Nazism; action based on faith is required.
What is a responsible person for Bonhoeffer?
Someone who acts against evil out of faith, even if unsure.
What is Bonhoeffer’s ‘bold venture of faith’?
Acting without certainty that you are doing right, trusting in God’s forgiveness.
Did Bonhoeffer support violence?
He reluctantly took part in the plot to kill Hitler, despite his pacifist beliefs.
What was Bonhoeffer’s justification for potentially sinful action?
That God forgives those who sin while trying to follow His will.
What does Bonhoeffer say about turning the other cheek?
In some situations, resisting evil requires more than nonviolence.
How does Bonhoeffer respond to Romans 13 about obeying rulers?
He believes God is the higher authority; civil disobedience is justified.
What was Bonhoeffer’s view of the Bible?
It’s not a rulebook; it inspires a personal encounter with God.
What does ‘Neo-Orthodox’ mean in Bonhoeffer’s theology?
The Bible becomes the word of God when it creates an encounter with Jesus.
What is a ‘rusty sword’ in Bonhoeffer’s terms?
An outdated moral principle that is no longer effective.
What does Bonhoeffer say about biblical principles?
They are only tools and should be discarded if they no longer serve.
What is civil disobedience for Bonhoeffer?
Disobeying immoral state laws out of loyalty to God’s will.
How did Bonhoeffer engage in civil disobedience?
He ran a secret seminary and joined a plot to kill Hitler.
What does Bonhoeffer say about the Church’s political role?
It must keep the state in check and resist authoritarianism.
What is a risk of Bonhoeffer’s view?
It could justify evil acts by people who wrongly think they follow God’s will.
How does Bonhoeffer address the risk of misuse?
He emphasizes that one must surrender personal will to truly follow God.
What does Harvey Cox say about Bonhoeffer’s theology?
It’s like a Rorschach test—too open to interpretation.
What do secularists argue about Church-state separation?
Church power is unnecessary and less accountable than democratic states.
How does Hauerwas defend Bonhoeffer?
The Church protects society from losing purpose and falling into totalitarianism.
What is the ‘void’ that secularism creates?
A loss of purpose and moral direction that can be exploited by dictators.
What is ‘cheap grace’?
Grace without true discipleship, repentance or sacrifice.
What is ‘costly grace’?
Grace that requires sacrifice, suffering, and following Jesus’ example.
What verse supports costly grace?
Mark 8:34-35, ‘Take up your cross and follow me’.
What parable supports costly grace?
The Good Samaritan—action, not legalism, defines righteousness.
How does Bonhoeffer differ from Aquinas on knowing God’s will?
Bonhoeffer rejects natural law; Aquinas believes reason can discover it.
How does Barth influence Bonhoeffer?
Both reject natural theology and believe reason is corrupted by the Fall.
What does Aquinas say about civil disobedience?
It’s justified if laws conflict with divine law.
How does Bonhoeffer differ from Aquinas on reason?
Bonhoeffer believes reason cannot reliably discover moral truths.
What is Nietzsche’s critique of Christianity?
It creates a toxic dependency on sin and the supernatural.
How does Bonhoeffer respond to Nietzsche?
By proposing a reformed, this-worldly, religionless Christianity.
What is ‘this-worldliness’?
Living fully in the world and resisting evil with responsible action.
What is ‘religionless Christianity’?
A form of faith that works in a secular age, without traditional religious structures.
Is Bonhoeffer’s theology still relevant?
Yes, it calls us to act against modern evil and injustice.
What would Bonhoeffer say about today’s cultural issues?
Act on God’s will with courage, faith, and selfless sacrifice.
Does Bonhoeffer support legalism?
No, he rejects fixed rules in favour of living relationship with God.
What is the danger of using Bonhoeffer to justify violence?
It risks being used to rationalize evil like terrorism.
How would Bonhoeffer respond to misuse of his theology?
True discipleship requires selfless motives and surrender to God’s will.
What did Bonhoeffer mean by ‘ground under its feet’?
That his generation had lost its moral foundation.
Why is the ‘responsible person’ so central to Bonhoeffer?
They act courageously with faith even when uncertain.
