Dietrich Bonhoeffer Religion

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Individuals in Politics and Religion:
Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Biography:
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was born in Breslau, Germany February, 4, 1906 and died in Flossenburg, Germany, April 9, 1945.
He graduated from the University of Berlin and gained a doctorate for his thesis, Sanctorum Communio. Bonhoeffer was a Catholic, he was moved by the Church’s involvement in social injustice and protection of those who were oppressed.
At the ripe age of 14 he declared that he wanted to be a priest and in 1931, at the age of 25 he was officially ordained. He was a pastor, pacifist, nazi resister.
In 1936 he had his authorization to teach revoked after being denounced as a pacifist and enemy of the state.
Joined Abwehr, which led one of the strongest oppositions to Hitler. He served as spy against the German government.
Arrested April, 1943 when efforts were made to help German Jews escape to Switzerland.
He was hanged two weeks before World War II was over.

Philosophy and Ideas:
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The camp doctor who witnessed the execution wrote “I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer … kneeling on the floor praying fervently to God. I was most deeply moved by the way this lovable man prayed, so devout and so certain that God heard his prayer. At the place of execution, he again said a short prayer and then climbed the few steps to the gallows, brave and composed. His death ensued after a few seconds. In the almost fifty years that I worked as a doctor, I have hardly ever seen a man die so entirely submissive to the will of God.”

Contribution to politics and society

Bonhoeffer’s undying resistance to Hitler’s regime was a source of inspiration to many influential figures such as Martin Luther King and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Wrote numerous theological texts that continue to have influence today.
Organized The Confessing Church and continued to head illegal seminaries in opposition of Nazi ideology.
Detrimental member of the Abwehr.
Conspired to assassinate HItler.

Personal opinion on his/her