Preserving the world for Christ

Harvey, Barry

doi:10.1017/s0036930607003845

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 2 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…40 Some have even tried to appropriate Bonhoeffer's theology by reinstituting the notion of two kingdoms back into his theology. 41 Granted, there are inherent tensions within Bonhoeffer's unification, and at times the synthesis seems to break apart. However, as Müller has observed, Bonhoeffer's understanding of reality is multifaceted, stemming from the dialectical interchange between 'creation', 'sin' and 'the Kingdom'.…”

Section: Bonhoeffer's Anthropologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Christological Foundations for an Ecological Ethic: Learning from Bonhoeffer

Burkholder

2013

SJT

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In an age where the church needs to foster moral concern for the environment, some are suggesting that Christian theology itself must be changed to produce this result. This article argues that such emendations are unnecessary because Dietrich Bonhoeffer, working a couple of decades before ecological concern was even seen as necessary, manages to craft a theological and ethical approach which is sensitive to ecological concern while retaining large portions of the Christian tradition. Bonhoeffer's anthropology robustly affirms humanity's connection with the natural environment and does not separate humans from the natural order. In fact, his novel approach to the image of God emphasises the necessity of human physicality and the ethical responsibility for the other, which seems to be extendable to the natural order as well. In addition, Bonhoeffer's interpretation of the command to have dominion sees the injunction as a call to be ‘bound’ to nature as a servant, not as a lord free to exploit the earth for wanton pleasure. Consequently, Bonhoeffer interprets the industrial revolution as the failure of humans to rule and serve creation well. Finally, his anthropology, unlike many in the tradition, does not extradite humans from the world, but rather situates them entirely within the matrix of interlocking relationships in the natural world. While Christian soteriology has been criticised for shifting Christian concern away from the environment and life in this world, Bonhoeffer's soteriology overcomes this criticism. Bonhoeffer vociferously repudiates two kingdoms theology in favour of a single unified reality of Christ, which unites God's work of creation and redemption into a unified whole. Furthermore, he interprets the incarnation as a robust affirmation of God's creation and thereby life in this present world. Finally, Bonhoeffer posits redemption encompassing the entire world order, rather than seeing humans as its unique constituents. Bonhoeffer's ethics of responsible action shows that humans need to evaluate not just their immediate actions, but also the long-term consequences of their actions, especially when it comes to use of the environment, both for the sake of other humans and for the sake of following Christ. Since disciples of Christ are supposed to be working towards the reality of Christ, one can conclude that Bonhoeffer's thought encourages humans to work towards the harmony that is to typify creation in the eschaton. Thus, Bonhoeffer's ethics encourages a moral concern for the environment both as a means of neighbourly love and as a means of following Christ.

show abstract

Section: Bonhoeffer's Anthropologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Christological Foundations for an Ecological Ethic: Learning from Bonhoeffer

Burkholder

2013

SJT

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Sexuality and community in the theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Brain¹

2018

SJT

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article suggests that the narrative of human community Bonhoeffer described in Sanctorum Communio, following the categories of creation, fall and redemption, provides the framework for understanding the various aspects of human sexuality found in Creation and Fall and Ethics. A comparative study of these texts reveals that marriage and sexuality in Bonhoeffer encapsulates the human drive towards community, preserved from the fall for redemption in Christ. Understanding human sexuality within the structure of this narrative allows for a new way of appropriating and evaluating Bonhoeffer's theological anthropology for contemporary ethical reflection in the Christian community.

show abstract

Preserving the world for Christ

Cited by 2 publications

References 2 publications

Christological Foundations for an Ecological Ethic: Learning from Bonhoeffer

Christological Foundations for an Ecological Ethic: Learning from Bonhoeffer

Sexuality and community in the theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About