Theologian. Conspirator. Martyr. Saint. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was killed in the waning days of
World War II, having been implicated in the July 20th assassination attempt on Hitler. Since
his death, Bonhoeffer's life and writings have inspired contradictory responses. He is often
seen as a model for Christian pacifist resistance, and more recently for violent direct political
action. Bonhoeffer's name has been invoked by violent anti-abortion protestors as well as
political leaders calling for support on a 'war on terror'in the aftermath of 9/11. Petra Brown …

Although Brown is correct in arguing that Bonhoeffer's ideas are founded on Christology,
she fails to account for how Bonhoeffer's Christology is deeply intertwined with his
ecclesiology. For Bonhoeffer, Christian ethics is rooted in the Church as the community of
believers. Although Brown recognises that Bonhoeffer regards the Church as a collective
person who subjects itself to the rule of Christ, she only focuses on how individual Christians
acting as mavericks could misappropriate the Christian existential ought and commit …