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Ethics Paperback – September 1, 1995
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The Christian does not live in a vacuum, says the author, but in a world of government, politics, labor, and marriage. Hence, Christian ethics cannot exist in a vacuum; what the Christian needs, claims Dietrich Bonhoeffer, is concrete instruction in a concrete situation. Although the author died before completing his work, this book is recognized as a major contribution to Christian ethics.
The root and ground of Christian ethics, the author says, is the reality of God as revealed in Jesus Christ. This reality is not manifest in the Church as distinct from the secular world; such a juxtaposition of two separate spheres, Bonhoeffer insists, is a denial of God’s having reconciled the whole world to himself in Christ. On the contrary, God’s commandment is to be found and known in the Church, the family, labor, and government. His commandment permits man to live as man before God, in a world God made, with responsibility for the institutions of that world.
- Print length384 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherTouchstone
- Publication dateSeptember 1, 1995
- Dimensions5.5 x 0.9 x 8.44 inches
- ISBN-10068481501X
- ISBN-13978-0684815015
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Product details
- Publisher : Touchstone (September 1, 1995)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 384 pages
- ISBN-10 : 068481501X
- ISBN-13 : 978-0684815015
- Item Weight : 12.8 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.44 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #27,801 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was born in Breslau in 1906. The son of a famous German psychiatrist, he studied in Berlin and New York City. He left the safety of America to return to Germany and continue his public repudiation of the Naz*s, which led to his arrest in 1943. Linked to the group of conspirators whose attempted assassination of Hitlerr failed, he was hanged in April 1945.
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Customers find the book easy to read and understand. They appreciate Bonhoeffer's insights and consider it a good theological reference. The ethics are seen as spiritual rather than just theological treatises, and the author is considered one of the greatest theologians.
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Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it insightful and a must-read for all. The writing is thought-provoking and original, challenging readers to live solid human lives.
"...Very thoughtful and original thinking about the realities of the Christian faith and the world that we live in...." Read more
"...we soon realize that ethics is much more interesting and complex in real life than it is in the classroom or study group...." Read more
"...and the natural results from that disunion. In my opinion, this is a good read for anyone who, is a christian and how to live in these times where..." Read more
"...In some respects,this is an easier read than many of his finished works, as he did not complete his editing of multiple phrases into single concise..." Read more
Customers find the book an engaging read that provides a deeper understanding of ethics than just theological treatises. They describe it as a good theological reference book for serious Christians who desire a closer look at the subject. The writings are complex but insightful, offering ideas to reflect and grow on. Readers praise Bonhoeffer's unique approach to the subject.
"This book answered so many of my questions that I’ve had for so long as I studied the Bible. I know I will read it again!!!..." Read more
"...Very thoughtful and original thinking about the realities of the Christian faith and the world that we live in...." Read more
"This book is a complicated but insightful writings from Bonhoeffer...." Read more
"...twentieth century central Europe, we soon realize that ethics is much more interesting and complex in real life than it is in the classroom or study..." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2024This book answered so many of my questions that I’ve had for so long as I studied the Bible. I know I will read it again!!!
If it is ever put on Audible I’m going to buy it so I can listen over and over again until it sinks in:)
- Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2019I used that book as one of my references in a series of lectures on Ethics I delivered in our local church's Sunday School.
I had read about the author and his life previously in a few occasions but that was the first text from him I read and studied. I am amazed by his write style as well how up-to-dated is the contents. Sometimes it can be a little bit difficult to follow the author (well, he is German), but in general it is not a challenge to understand. I strongly recommend it.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2016The Christian's unity with Christ frees the Christian from all considerations and judgments of personal good and evil (which is the common focus of ethics). The Christian is called to be single-mindedly devoted to the will of God and lose himself in Christ. ("Christ in us is our hope of glory.") (See Romans 6:1-14)
Very thoughtful and original thinking about the realities of the Christian faith and the world that we live in. I am only a third of the way into the book and I have found my understanding of Christ, the history of the West, the French Revolution and the rise of secular humanism to be enriched.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2021This book is a complicated but insightful writings from Bonhoeffer. It essentially speaks about Agape love of Christ and how church, government and mankind’s thoughts and actions is perfected in accordance to God’s law in the foundation of Jesus Christ.
It speaks about the government and explains the mission to protect the righteous to fulfill the its true mission of serving Christ. The divine tasks on preserving the world with its institutions which are given by God for the purpose of Christ.
On marriage, it illustrate that it’s purpose is not only to procreate children but also the responsibility of educating them in obedience to Jesus Christ. I definitely agree that educating and teaching moral values should be the top priority of parents when they decide to create a family or have children.
I like the passage on his definition of love - “Love is inseparably bound up with the name of Jesus Christ as the revelation of God. The New Testament answers the question “What is love?” quite unambiguously by pointing solely and entirely to Jesus Christ. He is the only definition of love.”
Overall, as complicated and convoluted this book is, there are still segments that I find insightful.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2012Based upon choices the author had to make in early twentieth century central Europe, we soon realize that ethics is much more interesting and complex in real life than it is in the classroom or study group. It is the essence of "how ought one to live" without the contrived scenario that is often presented there. He had to answer real questions from the soul, such as "Would it be wrong to murder the devil, if you could do so and it would save many others" (not a direct quote from the book, but along the same line).
Good reading and definitely character-building.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2013ALL ETHICS ORIGINATES IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL. Therefore, even our good is evil because we have become autonomous, like god but not God and it is the loss of God and the loss of knowing only the good, God's good, that impoverishes our soul and that of all men. This loss is a disunity with God, ourselves and our fellow man. Jesus Christ said that if the light that is in us is darkness, how great(there are degrees and magnitudes)is that darkness.
This book destroys all presumptuous and evil assumptions of ethics and points us back to our origins before the fall of man when everything was in unity in God(Christ) and Christ is the center of our lives and we are in Christ and He in us.
I can attest without any qualification that this book is one of the very best for the serious Christian who desires a closer and more fruitful fellowship with the Savior(The Bible being the one indispensable book above all others). If ever a book was needed for the 21 Century, this is the one. If Dr. Bonhoeffer can walk-the-walk in totalitarian evil Nazi Germany(and he did to the end) this book, with the Bible of course, arm the Christian for what lies just ahead, including persecution and possible martyrdom for Christ.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2013Written in the background of the autocracy of the Nazi government, Bonhoffer writes this book about christian ethics. In a few parts of the book,Bonhoffer aludes to Hitler and those that follow him without naming individuals. He gets rather into the nature of man and his disunion with God. and the natural results from that disunion. In my opinion, this is a good read for anyone who, is a christian and how to live in these times where the line of right and wrong is blurred.
Top reviews from other countries
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Benoit lapiereReviewed in Canada on June 12, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars retrouver commande, merci
J ai bien recu
J ai trouver a terre proche de la porte
Merci
- Samuel SelvamonyReviewed in India on April 21, 2015
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book on Discipleship
An excellent book on Discipleship. Every believer should read this if they want to escape the false-teaching of the so-called prosperity cheap-grace gospel.
- P B WrightReviewed in the United Kingdom on November 6, 2013
5.0 out of 5 stars Classic work of philosophy.
This a must for anyone with an interest in christian ethics and Bonhoeffer's idea of 'religionless christianity'. Companion to Letters and Papers by the same author, who wrote from prison before being executed by the Nazis.
- Teresa L. SteeleReviewed in Canada on July 21, 2018
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
A good book although difficult for me to read, but worth having on my book shelf