Date of Award

4-1-2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Sacred Theology (STM)

Department

Historical Theology

First Advisor

Erik Herrmann

Scripture References in this Resource

John 20:21; Matthew 4:13-17, 23-25; Luke 23:42-43; John 20:21-23; Acts 1:3; Acts 8:12; Acts 17:18; Acts 20:24-25; Hebrews 3:1; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Matthew 20:19; Acts 1:4-5; Genesis 3:9; Revelation 22:17, 20; Malachi 2:10; Acts 17:24, 26; Ephesians 3:14-15; Matthew 6:9; Matthew 11:25; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 1:3; Ephesians 4:6; Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Revelation 15:3-4; Genesis 50:20; Matthew 6:25-33; 1 Corinthians 8:5-6; Ephesians 1:9-10; Colossians 1:15-20

Abstract

In light of the relatively recent critiques of Christ and Culture, I would like to examine another text by a rough contemporary of Niebuhr's: Bonhoeffer's Discipleship. In the book, Bonhoeffer is dealing with similar themes and problems as Niebuhr wrestled with years later, yet Bonhoeffer has an entirely different interpretation and outcome than Niebuhr. Why is this the case? What was occurring in Bonhoeffer's social context and what influenced him that contributed to his argument? To help answer this question I will focus upon three areas that recent criticisms of Christ and Culture have highlighted: (1) the definition of culture, (2) the assessment of Christendom, and (3) the operating Christology. In all three of these areas, I hope to explore more deeply the themes of both how and why Bonhoeffer comes to the conclusions that he does in Discipleship. What makes his cultural critiques so unique? Does he offer a perspective that Niebuhr did not? Such an examination will not only give us a better understanding of Bonhoeffer in this period of his theological development but it will also give us the opportunity to look at another text besides Niebuhr's that deals with the "enduring problem” of Christ and culture.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Download

Share

COinS