A theological study of the sociology of the church vol. His thesis, sanctorum communio communion of saints, was very well received in the world of christian theology. This article will begin with a brief historical background to bonhoeffer, including a survey of his early work, sanctorum communio, and noting that even in this early and largely philosophical work, the underlying concern. Dietrich bonhoeffer reading room tyndale university.
A onevolume collection of legendary author dietrich bonhoeffer s profound. May 10, 20 bonhoeffer s first published work i believe that is correct was his theological dissertation named sanctorum communion, it was a blend of sociology and theology addressing the church. A theological study of the sociology of the church ebook. Sanctorum communio was bonhoeffer s dissertation, completed in 1927 and first published in 1930. A dogmatic inquiry into the sociology of the church, 1963, dietrich bonhoeffer, collins, 1963. Bonhoeffer s first published work i believe that is correct was his theological dissertation named sanctorum communion, it was a blend of sociology and theology addressing the church. Now in an affordable paper edition, sanctorum communio. This tradition of the bonhoeffer family may explain why dietrich bonhoeffer had already made up his mind at the age of fourteen, when he was still at school, to read theology. It represents for me a song of victory in my own personal exodus from institutionalized christianity. Nancy lukens the work, available in this series for the first time in its entirety in english, includes all material omitted from the original 1930 german publication.
Sanctorum communio was dietrich bonhoeffer s dissertation, completed in 1927 and first published in 1930. All citations of bonhoeffer are from the dietrich bonhoeffer works english series dbwe, published by fortress press, minneapolis, and used with permission of fortress press. Born in breslau, germany, on 4 february 1906, dietrich bonhoeffer moved to berlin in 1912 when his father, karl bonhoeffer, became professor of psychiatry at the university of berlin. This study explores the value of virtuality for theology by investigating dietrich bonhoeffer s doctoral dissertation sanctorum communio of 1927. General editors foreword to dietrich bonhoeffer works. I would not recommend this book to novice readers, nor as an entry point into bonhoeffer s works. Save up to 80% by choosing the etextbook option for isbn. Sanctorum communio, available for the first time in its entirety in english, includes all material omitted from the original 1930 german publication. Communio sanctorum pdf dietrich bonhoeffer eucharist scribd. Kraus and nancy lukens, year1998 here is offered the complete text in translation. In it he attempts to work out a theology of the person in society, and then, particularly, in the church.
This book is volume 1 in the dietrich bonhoeffer works. Along with enlightening us about his early positions on sin, evil, solidarity, collective spirit, and collective guilt, the volume unfolds a s. Yet, as the editor notes in his introduction, understanding the theology of dietrich bonhoeffer requires a thorough understanding of sanctorum communio 1. Bonhoeffer s doctoral dissertation sets out the theology of sociality that informed all his work, engaging social philosophy and sociology to interpret the church as christ existing as. Due to his opposition to the nazi regime, bonhoeffer was arrested and executed at the flossian concentration camp, during the last month of the war. Sanctorum communio bonhoeffer, dietrich, green, clifford j. A year later he attended courses at berlin university, and sat at the feet of. I think he was executed for treason by the nazis, along with others in the same movement, and the lutheran church, of which he was a member, considers him a saint. This page is designed to help make writings on and by dietrich bonhoeffer available to those without easy access to a theological library. A theological study of the sociology of the church, dietrich bonhoeffer works, volume 1. His family was well educated, gifted, closely knit, and part of uppermiddle class privileged society. At the age of seventeen he entered tiibingen university. Bonhoeffer s doctoral dissertation sets out the theology of sociality that informed all his work, engaging social philosophy and. Scripture and myth in dietrich bonhoeffer 1937 and life together 1939, are favorite books in evangelical circles.
This study explores the value of virtuality for theology by investigating dietrich bonhoeffers doctoral dissertation sanctorum communio of 1927. A theological study of the sociology of the church minneapolis. While the latin phrase communio sanctorum has been in use for centuries, the german pastor and theologian dietrich bonhoeffer s dissertation was titled sanctorum communio. A theological study of the sociology of the church by dietrich bonhoeffer. The work, available in this series for the first time in its entirety in english, includes all material omitted from the original 1930 german.
Sanctorum communio was bonhoeffers dissertation, completed in 1927 and first published in 1930. The best way to introduce sanctorum communion is to quote the editors introduction to the english edition. Sanctorum communio dietrich bonhoeffer works, volume 1. Primary sources this bibliography of primary sources is a periodically updated tool providing the interested researcher with a thorough listing of identified material, wherever it may be available. In his doctoral dissertation, sanctorum communio 1927 and in his habilitationsschrift, act and being 1930, scriptures play a subordinate role and bonhoeffer cited philosophers more often than scripture to substantiate his. The communion of saints thesis by bonhoeffer britannica.
Bonhoeffer was a pastor, theologian, and leader of nonviolent opposition to the nazis. Act and being, in which he traces the influence of transcendental philosophy and ontologyas well as kantian and postkantian theories. Sanctorum communio by dietrich bonhoeffer and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Primary sources this bibliography of primary sources is a periodically updated tool providing the interested researcher with a thorough listing of. Here are the roots of his commitment to the confessing church and the resistance movement. Lutheran theologian dietrich bonhoeffer stands out among german church leaders during the twelve years of the third reich. Early training doctoral thesis, sanctorum communio 1930. Sanctorum communio by dietrich bonhoeffer, has as its subtitle a theological study of the sociology of the church. Kurt godfryd is editor of catholic journal and a permanent deacon of the archdiocese of detroit.
Bonhoeffers doctoral dissertation sets out the theology of sociality that informed all his work, engaging social philosophy and sociology to interpret the church as christ existing as churchcommunity. This little poem sanctorum communio community of the saints was written in my personal journal of prayers and meditations on february 4, 2007. Due to his opposition to the nazi regime, bonhoeffer was arrested and executed at the flossian concentration camp. A theological study of the sociology of the church dietrich bonhoeffer works, vol. A comparative study of these texts reveals that marriage and sexuality in bonhoeffer encapsulates the. Bonhoeffer graduated summa cum laude from the university of berlin in 1927 and became a theologist at the age of 21. In his doctoral dissertation sanctorum communio, bonhoeffer identifies the.
The link below are connecting to a free online copy of. Fortress press has released a collection of the works of dietrich bonhoeffer beginning with his dissertation on the role of the believer in society as well as within the church. Reconfiguring the confession of christs presence from the beginning of his career dietrich bonhoeffer was invested in describing and then crafting a form of religious community that provided a way of being human, and a form of corporate sociality that was grounded in. He was deeply religious and this led him to work in. This article will begin with a brief historical background to bonhoeffer, including a survey of his early work, sanctorum communio, and noting that even in this early and. Sexuality and community in the theology of dietrich bonhoeffer.
A theological study of the sociology of the church, available for the first time in its entirety in english, includes all material omitted from the original 1930 german publication. Jackson, of the adventist communion, has served as pastor on the atlantic and pacific coasts. 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. Bonhoeffer believed the church is a relational body of persons gathered under the word of christ christ as. Written at the age of only 21, the book is a monumental tome describing bonhoeffer s ideas on the work of the spirit in the church building a community of the redeemed. A theological study of the sociology of the church, available for the first time in its entirety in english, includes all. Bonhoeffer s doctoral dissertation sets out the theology of sociality that informed all his work, engaging social philosophy and sociology to interpret the church as christ. A dogmatic inquiry into the sociology of the church. Dietrich bonhoeffer 19061945 was a german lutheran pastor, theologian he received his doctorate in theology at the age of only 21, participant in the german resistance movement against nazism, and a founding member of the confessing church. Sanctorum communio a theological study of the sociology of the church, dbw 1 by dietrich bonhoeffer and publisher fortress press nbn. Understanding the theology of dietrich bonhoeffer requires a thorough understanding of sanctorum communio, his doctoral dissertation and first published work.
Dietrich bonhoeffer, dietrich bonhoeffer works, volume i sanctorum communio. Married and the father of five children, deacon kurt was ordained to the diaconate on october 4, 2008 by his eminence adam cardinal maida and is assigned to st. He was deeply religious and this led him to work in opposition to national socialist injustices. Titled sanctorum communio and called by karl barth a theological miracle. Along with enlightening us about his early positions on sin, evil, solidarity, collective spirit, and collective guilt, the volume unfolds a systematic theology of the. A volume of selected readings entitled the dietrich bonhoeffer reader which presents a chronological view of bonhoeffer s theological development became available by 1 november 20. Three tenets of virtuality, being actualisation, timespace irrelevancy and collectivity are elaborated on with the aim of providing a new reading of sanctorum communio. Bonhoeffer graduated summa cum laude from the university of berlin in 1927 and earned a doctorate in theology at the age of 21 with a thesis, sanctorum communio communion of saints, which presented a significantly new way of looking at the nature of the christian church and was praised by barth as a theological miracle. Communio sanctorum pdf dietrich bonhoeffer eucharist. Sanctorum communio 9780800696528, 9781451406801 vitalsource. Photo of dietrich bonhoeffer in 1928 in barcelona by rotraut forberg, dusseldorf.
The work, available in this series for the first time in its entirety in english, includes all material omitted from the original 1930 german publication. A onevolume collection of legendary author dietrich bonhoeffer. Along with enlightening us about his early positions on sin, evil, solidarity, collective spirit, and collective guilt, the volume unfolds a systematic theology of the spirit at work in the. Dietrich bonhoeffer the cost of discipleship revised edition. The writings of dietrich bonhoeffer already published in english temptation leiters and papers from prison ethics creation and fall. Dietrich bonhoeffer works dbw, volume 1 9780800696528 by dietrich bonhoeffer. A theological study of the sociology of the church, author dietrich bonhoeffer and clifford j. Now in an affordable paper edition, sanctorum communio is more readily usable for teaching and scholarship.