Notes on Christian Moral Action, essentially Bonhoeffer, in accordance with the OCR Religious Studies specification. The notes provide information, scholars, ideas and quotes compiled from various resources from both within and outside of the curriculum.
Relationship of Church State
Duty to God
- Bonhoeffer argued it was either defeating Nazism or the entire Christian
civilisation being defeated
- ‘we are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the
wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself.’
Bonhoeffer
- Jesus tells Martha ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few
things are needed- or indeed only one.’ Luke 10:38
Duty to State
- ‘Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no
authority except that which God has established.’ Romans 13:1
- Traditional Lutheran Theology espouses an obedience to the state as God
rules in two realms/kingdoms, in heaven and Earth
obedience
- submit yourself to Jesus as the disciples did, ‘when Christ calls a man,
he bids him come and die.’
- emphasis of actions rather than belief, he believed this is more the
concern of religion
- ‘one act of obedience is worth a hundred sermons.’ Bonhoeffer
- exclusive obedience to God is the only real faith. ‘It is no use asking
questions; for it is only through obedience that you come to learn
the truth.’
eval:
1. suggestion we should follow the Bible blind but this contradicts with the
nature of Jesus’ teachings which requires Christians to ask questions
justification of civil disobedience
- duty to God is more important than duty to the state
- living in Nazi Germany, he felt being a Christian required disobedience to
the state as inaction was just as bad as doing the wrong thing.
- ‘bandage the victims under the wheel, but jam a spoke in the wheel
itself.’ Essentially, disobedience may be necessary to stop further harm
eval:
1. a pacifist approach is difficult and may not be enough, violence is
sometimes needed
2. CD doesn’t address institutionalised/systematic issues very effectively
3. Locke argues our duty to the state is only obligatory if we have consented
to its rule, Bonhoeffer hadn’t consented to Nazi rule so his CD was
justifiable
Church as community and source of spiritual discipline
- Finkenwalde was a small town where Bonhoeffer led a Confessing Church
with a strict routine and discipline
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