Dietrich Bonhoeffer presents us with the idea/question on what we have learned in life, and what is truly important. He states,” Time lost is time in which we have failed to live a full human life, gain experience, learn, create, enjoy, and suffer; it I time that has not been filled up, but left empty”. This describes the importance of using our time wisely and being active. He presents us with passages on what we learned, should learn, or should have learned on virtue, confidence, humanity and more. Because he was so against the Nazi influence in the church, he stood his ground and encouraged others to do the same, even if standing up or against the Nazis meant establishing another church. I believe that Bonhoeffer’s ideals and beliefs were and still are important. Standing up for what is right, and protecting your ideals is always the right thing to do. To rectify such injustice was his goal, and made it a point that it was not right.
Kate Shannon
I believe that Deitrich Bonhoeffer was a great example and role model for Christians throughout the tragedy of the Holocaust. Deitrich was a Christian who devoted and lived his life as Christ lived his life. He was committed to helping the Jews and saving them from the persecution that they faced any possible was he could. He believed that all people, including Jews, were children of God and that they too had “specific destiny”. The only difference that Bonhoeffer faced with the Jews was the belief that Jews would have to convert to resolve the “Jewish question.” He was specifically focused on ending the Nazi government control. He was incarcerated for his efforts and even banned from preaching/ giving speeches in a few cities. Deitrich ultimately died for his faith and is now remembered as a martyr in Christian History. Deitrich Bonohoeffer’s efforts to shift the power structure in place, and to stand for his religious beliefs no matter what pressure was placed on him, is a great role model. Deitrich should be remembered for his efforts against the Nazi regime and his efforts in helping those of Jewish faith. We should take away the bravery Deitrich had when standing up for what he believed in and apply it to our lives and troubles.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read the writings by Bonhoeffer himself and then the essay on his life and part to play in the anti-Nazi movement, I was struck by how well he communicated exactly what the Christian Churches didn't like about the anti-Semitic movement and Nazi ideals infiltrating churches. Unlike the Declaration of Barmen, he didn't directly come out against certain Nazi principles, rather he leads readers through his own meditations on the horrors that he's witnessed and allowed them to make their own conclusions. It reminded me a little bit of parables.
ReplyDeleteI was also struck by Bonhoeffer's resolve to stay with his people, although he had many opportunities to avoid the danger and hassle of being a true Christian minister in fascist Germany. Also his determination to continue the Christian legacy by instructing forming ministers in secret shows what type of individual he was-- definitely a person whose message is worth considering and meditating on as we study the Holocaust...
-Sophia Pileggi
Dietrich Bonhoeffer represents a tiny portion of the German church during the Holocaust who stood up against the Anti-Semitic actions of the Nazis. Reading the essay about his life and then reading his works gave me good insight into what Bonhoeffer believed in. The works represented that though Bonhoeffer was against the Nazi actions, he still chose to stick with the ideas of the Christians who believed that they could convert the Jews to Christianity. It was an interesting look into a thing most people do not know about in history and the essay on his life was helpful for the readings.
ReplyDelete-Tara Costello
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his "Letters and Papers from Prison," attempts to bolster man's moral in an effort against inequity. He explains that the foolish man can do more harm than the evil, saying that "against folly we have no defense" (Bonhoeffer 9). Throughout his discourse he wishes for his reader to respect man. He acknowledges the ease with which we can doubt man's intentions. Despite this, Bonhoeffer calls on us to "learn to regard people less in the light of what they do or omit to do, and more in the light of what they suffer" (Bonhoeffer 10).
ReplyDeleteBonhoeffer's message is clear. He strives to foster activity within a community so bound to inaction. His instructive diction portrays an individual who wants nothing more than justice and virtue. His bibliography mirrors these same claims. While he died before he could answer his questions about man and God, he was one of the few to even ask them.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was one of few Christians to take a public stance during the Shoah. He asked the question, "Who stands fast?" during such volatile times (5). Bonhoeffer found that "only the man whose final standard is not his reason, his principles, his conscience, his freedom, or his virtue, but who is ready to sacrifice all this when he is called to obedient and responsible action in faith and in exclusive allegiance to God- the responsible man, who tries to make his whole life an answer to the question and call of God" (5). It seems that Bonhoeffer embodied such a man. He had remarkable faith in God, saying "I feel that I 'long to look,' like the angels in 1 Peter 1.12, to see how God is going to solve the apparently insoluble" (279). Bonhoeffer also had great concern for the next generation. He said, "The ultimate question for a responsible man to ask is not how he is to extricate himself heroically from the affair, but how the coming generation is to live" (7). Bonhoeffer saw the next generation's future at stake, and he knew that he had a responsibility to act with the next generation in mind.
ReplyDeleteA question that struct me while reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Letters and Papers From Prison was is "it ethically more responsible to take the field like a Don Quixote against a new age, or to admit one's defeat, accept the new age and agree to serve it" (Bonhoeffer 7). In this, Bonhoeffer accuses the German Christian society of turning their backs on everything immoral that is happening around them and acting as if it were ok as well as simply giving in to the evil of the world without a fight. In his writings, Bonhoeffer urges the public to open their eyes to the corruption that is happening in the world and stand up as Christians together and battle unjust acts against humanity. God "demands responsible action in a bold venture of faith" (Bonhoeffer 6); therefore, we should never act passively against injustice such as the common German Christians acted during the Shoah.
ReplyDelete-Jay Garrick
Bonhoeffer writes on a wide range of topics, each invaluable in its own right, but overall important to society, especially at a fulcrum in history.
ReplyDeleteMost of his writings concern human nature; Bonhoeffer explores certain human actions and perspectives relative to good and evil. He also writes on other inevitable consequences of the human condition, like suffering and death.
I say that Bonhoeffer's writing is critical at the fulcrums of history because it is at these times that the best of man is required. "What we shall not need is geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest straightforward men. Will our inward power of resistance be strong enough, and our honesty with ourselves be remorseless enough, for us to find our way back to simplicity and straightforwardness?"
What I found most interesting in this text was when Bonhoeffer was explaining how God can take care of/help us from any evil out there, even the worst kind, but never in advance UNLESS we "rely on ourselves and not on him alone". I agree with this argument and think that it explains the answer as to 'where God was during the Holocaust'. Throughout his entire text he explains what ideal characteristics a person should have, which shows that all our problems cannot just be answered by God because often times these problems were made because of us and they can be fixed by us just as well. We could spend our time worrying, wondering, and doubting where God is during the most evil times, or we could actually fill our time by doing more useful actions like stand up for what is right, like Bonhoeffer.
ReplyDelete-Katie Lamb
After the tragedy of the Holocaust, I feel like Bonhoeffer brings up a good point - that while we can rely on God for protection against the things that threaten to do us harm, we cannot just passively wait around for an angel to come and save us. As Katie pointed out, this explains the question where God was during the Holocaust; I feel like God was there with the Jewish people and all the people who suffered, and was acting through those who were brave enough to do something.
ReplyDeleteDoubting God is not a bad thing, nor is worrying about where He is in a time of crisis. Bonhoeffer's perspective on human nature is really interesting through - he draws attention to the fact that there are consequences, some inevitable, that follow our actions. The (what I thought) most important part of his writing, though, was his call to action. He essentially condemns the idea of just being an observer, a sin of omission that we had identified as perhaps one of the most tragic sins of the Holocaust.
I was inspired by the courage and insight of Dietrich Bonhoeffer to both recognize truth in the face of overwhelming adversity and to speak out against it. His stance to include treat all men with dignity and respect may seem obvious today, but at the time wasn't necessarily at all obvious.
ReplyDeleteChelsey Sterling
In my opinion, Dietrich Bonhoeffer' actions during the Holocaust were perfect examples of how Christians should have acted at that time. The Christian religion is based on treating all people with kindness, and this includes all other religions. What made Bonhoeffer's actions noteworthy was his willingness to loose anything, even his life, while standing up for what is right. If more people had been this selfless, more lives could have been saved and the Nazis may have been stopped sooner.
ReplyDeleteDietrich Bonhoeffer was what every clergyman and even person should have done during the Holocaust. His compassion to all of those persecuted during this genocide, specifically the Jews, is what an ideal Christian person should do in the face of any human rights disaster. Bonhoeffer took the phrase, "love others as I have loved you" (Jesus to us), to heart and ran with it. He was one of the few people who actually stood up to the Nazis in a time when everyone should have.
ReplyDeleteEmma Leary
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was one of the few German Christians that took a firm stand against what the Nazi's were doing to the Jews. He encouraged other to stand against them and to not take a passive approach with what they were doing. He was an exemplary Christian.
ReplyDeleteBonhoeffer wrote that we must act in order for God to save us in times of evil, and not many people acted.
Tom May
I enjoyed reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer because he seemed to have a plan of what to do regarding the Nazi's. He was a true Christian and didn't allow popular opinions and political powers sway his views.
ReplyDelete~Caitlin Gorecki
In his Letters and Papers from Prison, Dietrich Bonhoeffer challenges his readers to confront themselves. He stresses the value of time and putting it to good use. The standards we set for our actions, as he explains, must be based on more than reason, fanaticism, conscience, duty, freedom, and virtuousness. We must make our lives “answer to the question and call of God” by acting out of responsibility in faith and “exclusive allegiance to God.” Bonhoeffer demonstrated this steadfast faith in his response to the Holocaust. He showed true Christian values in a time when few others did the same. His writings provide wise insight for how Christians ought to behave in times of turmoil (and in every day life).
ReplyDeleteDietrich Bonhoeffer's actions were great examples of how Christians should act during the Holocaust. He wanted to let every man to be respected which we still try to do today. During the Holocaust, he devoted his time to help out the Jews. He believed that every had a chance and he had to help the Jews with theirs.
ReplyDelete-Mary Vogt
The Holocaust took lives of many people. It was a difficult time in the world because it showed how precious time really is in a persons life. The loss of all of these people is someone unimagineable. These people were not ready for their life to be done. But God has a plan for everyone and the time has come for them to sacrifice their lives. The Germans had to learn the strength of obedience. This was a point in history that is hard to believe. It is sad to know that so many people lost their lives. The Holocaust Museum is unlike anything I have seen in my life. It really makes you realize that you never know when your time is up so you should always enjoy life and make the most of what you can.
ReplyDelete-Lindsey Ritter
I love how humble Dietrich Bonhoeffer is in this reading. He constantly speaks of how he is the most joyful our of all the prisioners, and how he does not see his imprisionment as suffering. Instead, he finds it a joy to be able to have so much free time for his thoughts.
ReplyDeleteDuring this reading he also gave hope to those who suffered from the Holocaust. In one way, he relates their sufferings to those of Christ. He explains how Jesus Christ suffered for the salvation of us all; and that He needed to endure suffering in the worst possible way. Therefore, the victims must look to Christ as an example, because only He truly knows what thye are eduring.
Bonhoeffer also explains that one must be optimistic in life. He says "optimism is not the view of the present, but the fact that it is the inspiration of life and hope when others give in...to hold his head high when everything seems to be going wrong; it gives him stregnth..." I absolutely love this quote, Bonhoeffer is able to give hope to those suffering.
-Elisabeth O'Toole
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, with his experience in imprisonment, truly deals with the situation in the likeness of Christ. He does not see the prison camp as a punishment for something he had done, he just sees that he must suffer, just like Jesus Christ did.
ReplyDeleteHe looks at his situation in the most positive way and it really is moving to read about his experience.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer surprised me by showing how he knew what to do in regards to the Nazi's and their takeover. Bonhoeffer makes a good point by pointing out that God would not just come and save us, but we must prevent these things ourselves. He showed a lot of wisdom and knowledge in this article.
ReplyDeleteELISE ARIENS
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the writings of Deitrich Bonhoeffer. His writings were able to give me great insight into his life and revealed to me that as a person he was a true Christian, he did not allow others to sway his own personal opinion. Deitrich Bonhoeffer is a great example of how Christians should have acted during the holocaust. Even though he was imprisoned he still managed to have a positive outlook on life and used the time to examine his thoughts.
ReplyDelete-Carolyn Spero
Dietrich Bonhoeffer exemplifies the actions taken against the Nazi party that all Christians should of taken. The Holocaust took the lives of so many innocent people. This is one of the most unbelievable events in history. The Holocaust Museum is a memorial and place to learn about the Holocaust. This allows to remember those people who lost their lives and realize that bad things can happen to good people. God needed those people with him and this event is an example that shows us to live each day to the best of our ability because we never know what tomorrow holds.
ReplyDelete-Katelyn Bockin
From the very beginning of the Nazi rising, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was adamantly opposed to the Nazi ideals and reign. He was one of the first religious leaders to speak out against Hitler. Never once during his imprisonment did he see it as being imprisoned. He always held hope, and even if he thought he was suffering in jail, he never saw it as suffering. He believed that Christ's suffering for all of us was the ultimate suffering. Because of this, Bonhoeffer used Christ's suffering as a way of knowing what he should do while he was imprisoned. He accepted it and placed his faith completely in God, no matter what.
ReplyDeleteThough Bonhoeffer's actions were debated and have been thought to be inconsistent with his Christian beliefs, I think the text we read shows that his heart is in the right place. He believes that, at the end of it all, "God will bring good out of evil, even the greatest evil." However he fully prepared to be God's agent in that endeavor. He is trying to bring God's Kingdom to earth, even in the places where it is farthest from, like Nazi Germany. His theology is solid, and his actions, though contraversial, conform with his theology.
ReplyDeleteThe reading by Dietrich Bonhoeffer is not only an historical narrative of letters between his parents and himself, but it is also an inspirational work by which to live. His writings are basically a "how to" for living at a time of persecution and great unrest. In his writing he indirectly describes himself for he tells those persecuted by the Nazis to be strong, confident, firm, and resolute in one's faith. This was exactly what he was, a living example of one who stuck with what he believed and helped others to do so also.
ReplyDelete~Nicholas Shields
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was an anti-Nazi German who had very convincing and clear points against the actions of the Nazi party. After reading Bonhoeffer I discovered how many great points and ideas he actually had. He had a few lines in his work that really stood out to me. One of them pivots around the point that if we are not living fully, that we are just wasting our time and I strongly agree with that. These people during the Holocaust were forced to not live a full life by being told and forced what to do by others. Another line that i thought was very effective is "We have to learn that personal suffering is a more effective key, a more rewarding principle for exploring the world in thought and action than personal good fortune." This is very true. You may now or be someone who is very spoiled and hasnt had to work a day in their life yet has more things than you and much nicer things than you and you just say to yourself, this is not fair. Well in the long run, by living the more difficult life you gain a much broader view on life.
ReplyDelete--Nicholas Darin
The passages of Bonhoeffer revealed many courageous and responsible characteristics on his part. Despite the Nazi control and interferrance in the church, he continued to rise above the Nazi rule aware of the consequences. He demonstrated his strong influence in faith, the strength to stand up for what he believed was right and only acceptable by and for God. Through his church of confession, he created a movement of strength against the Nazi regime. His fearlessness to accept suffering for God and for humanity made him a remarkable figure during this time.
ReplyDeleteSamantha Smedley