Christian Moral Action - DCT Flashcards
(48 cards)
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An outdated moral principle that is no longer effective.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.
