Book Review: Bonhoeffer - Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy

" The first call which every Christian experiences is the call to abandon the attachments of this world.” 

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

My Alternate Title:

The Life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Abandoned to Christ

Do you have any idea who Dietrich Bonhoeffer was? He was a German theologian and pastor who lived from 1906-1945. He had something to do with a plot against the Nazis, and his death was decidedly from unnatural causes. That was about all I knew when I embarked upon reading his biography.

One of my new year goals was to read some biographies of famous Christians. As I searched the internet for titles I came across this one, found that our library had the unabridged audiobook, and checked it out. I knew so little of this man’s life and legacy, and now my view of the Christian walk has been changed forever.

Bonhoeffer was born into a decent, upper-class German family at the turn of the twentieth century. He had all the advantages of a good upbringing, fine education, and close friendships. His father was an areligious man, his mother a devoted Christian, and Dietrich decided to study theology in school. His doctoral thesis, Sanctorum Communio (which he wrote at age 21), concerned the theology of the church and delved into the complex subjects of authority, freedom, ritual, and eschatology. His career would only climb from there.

Becoming a pastor and mentor to many, Dietrich seemed poised for a life of academic and religious achievement—when the unthinkable happened. Hitler came to power and the church began to buckle. German Christians had just as much patriotic fervor as their neighbors and began backing the Fuhrer (a man gifted in speaking “Christian-ese” at appropriate times). Dietrich saw trouble and began gathering together men who were dedicated first of all to Christ, not Germany.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s life story is the story of the church in Germany during the period of the second world war. What he did was far from easy. He was patriotic too, and recently engaged to the love of his life, Maria von Wedemeyer. As things progressed, however, he found himself fighting against his country and going into more and more danger. “Christians” were caving in all around him, the rotten girders of their theology giving way under the pressure of escalating hostilities. Bonhoeffer wrote of his identification with Jeremiah, who “was upbraided as a disturber of the peace, an enemy of the people, just like all those, throughout the ages until the present day, who have been possessed and seized by God, for whom God had become too strong . . . how gladly would he have shouted peace and Heil with the rest.”

Book #7: Great Souls: Six Who Changed a Century

"A Great Soul…as we define it in this book, is “someone of preeminent attainment characterized by one or more character qualities of greatness.”
- David Aikman, Great Souls


One reason I was interested in reading this book was the variety of names on the cover:  Billy Graham, Nelson Mandela, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Mother Theresa, Pope John Paul II, and Elie Wiesel. I had heard of all of them, of course, as they were all very famous people in their own ways. Mother Theresa never sought fame for herself, it came to her. Solzhenitsyn, on the other hand, declared the truth about Soviet Russia from the housetops, as it were. They all had faith in common, but very different kinds of faith. They were from all over the world and were well-known for widely diverse reasons. I checked the CD out at the library, wondering if I would enjoy this intriguing book.


It turned out to be a collection of mini-biographies written by well-known journalist, David Aikman. He spoke personally to several of the people he showcases in this book, so every biography has a personal touch. Aikman has selected a “character quality of greatness” for each great soul, a quality which has permeated their life for many years and characterized the impact they have had on the world: Graham - salvation, Mandela - forgiveness, Solzhenitsyn - truth, Mother Theresa - compassion, John Paul ll - human dignity, Wiesel - remembrance.

I had never heard about Billy Graham’s beginnings, but it amazed me how a kid from a North Carolina dairy farm became “America’s pastor”. Circumstances like a case of mumps and the support of a greatly-disliked newspaper mogul helped take Graham in an unlikely direction. It seems as if the hand of God reached down to that little insignificant boy and turned him into something huge and extraordinary. He wasn’t perfect, by any means, but he has certainly changed this world for the better. 

Likewise I knew little about Nelson Mandela, besides what I gleaned from the movie Invictus. He was born in South Africa, in the days of Apartheid. I was surprised to learn about his headstrong, violent, almost communist leanings in his younger years, as he fought against the extreme injustice of the white minority rule. Then he was imprisoned for 27 years. The hot-headed man matured during this time, much of it spent on the isolated Robben Island. He came out a different man, still passionate for freedom, but with a spirit of forgiveness for his persecutors. He went on to become the president of South Africa until 1999 when he retired at the age of 75. 

A while back I meant to read one of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s books, but I admit that the size frightened me. Little did I know what a fascinating man the author was. He was born in Soviet Russia, and was an ardent communist. He loved Lenin’s beliefs and was a firm supporter of socialism. But he didn’t care for Stalin, and that’s what got him into trouble. Solzhenitsyn wrote some derogatory comments about Stalin in letters, which were intercepted; this resulted in eight years in a labor camp. While imprisoned he wrote the book One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, which is considered one of the most powerful indictments of the Soviet gulag that has ever been written. After his release he became a full-fledged anti-communist and kept writing. And he continued to be persecuted. He spread the truth about the inner cruelties of the U.S.S.R., and eventually helped free the Russian people from communist tyranny.

Mother Theresa was born Agnesë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, in what is now Macedonia. By the age of 12 she was convinced that God wanted her to be a missionary, so at 18 she left for training in Ireland. After learning English she took her vows and began teaching at a convent school in Calcutta, India. Years later she experienced her “call within the call” and felt that she must go outside the convent to serve in the Calcutta slums. She started her own order, the Missionaries of Charity, and the rest, as they say, is history. She cared for men, women, and children who had been left out on the streets to die, and reached out to outcast lepers. She won several prestigious awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize, and went on to worldwide fame. But her personal creed of compassion remained the same. I was very impressed with the life story of this amazing woman, and has made me want to read about her more fully.

Karol Józef Wojtyła, also known as Pope John Paul II, was born in Poland. He suffered the deaths of mother, father, and brother before he was twenty years old, and went on to attend a university and become very interested in theater. There hadn’t been a non-Italian pope since the 1520s, and this young man who worked in a limestone quarry under Nazi occupation seemed one of the last people on earth to become the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic church. Through remarkable circumstances, Karol went from manual laborer to priest, to bishop, to cardinal, and finally, to pope. Throughout his life he maintained a respect and will to work for human dignity. 

Eliezer Wiesel was born in 1928 Romania, the son of a grocer. He was a Jew, and it was this heritage that helped make him the world-wide figure that he is today. After the Nazi army ceded Elie’s hometown to Hungary in 1940, the Hungarian authorities allowed the Germans to deport Jews in the area to the concentration camp of Auschwitz Birkenau. Elie and his father made it through to a work camp, but Elie never saw his mother and little sister again. Over eight months of excruciating living conditions passed before Elie was released. His father died in the camp. But did Wiesel repress what happened to him and forget about what others suffered and are still suffering? No. He made it his task to remember, and to make others remember, to fulfill his “duty to the dead.”


All in all it was a fascinating book which I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend. It has inspired me to learn more about these remarkable people, and to emulate their greatness in every way I can.  

Book #6: The Art of War

"Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys. Look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death!"
- Sun Tzu, The Art of War


The Art of War was written in 6th century BC China, yet it is still influencing culture and military tactics around the world today.  Mao Zedong, General Vo Nguyen Giap, Baron Antoine-Henri Jomini, and General Douglas MacArthur all claimed to have drawn inspiration from the work. The information and advice contained in this slim volume is timeless and valuable.


Before I read it, I wasn’t quite sure that War would be that interesting; it might just have been a dry book of tactics organized into dozens of subsections. But as I began listening to it I found myself stopping often to take notes for further reference, the content was so fascinating. Far from dry, this was a lively, passionate, interactive kind of rulebook, peppered with stories and legends exemplifying the subjects Sun Tzu was explaining. I read about ancient battles and sudden reversals of fortune, witty maneuvering and plenty of bloodshed.


One of Sun Tzu’s major themes is that one can only plan so far. It is the virtue of preparedness that will make one a victor. If one is ready for anything, in any situation, then success is almost assured. Sun Tzu explains how to gain victory in easy terrain, difficult terrain, neutral terrain, narrow terrain, dangerous terrain, and distant terrain, but when it comes down to it it’s mostly all about having quick reactions and making the best of bad situations. Always have a trick up your sleeve, always give yourself plenty of options when possible.


There are so many little gems of wisdom in this book, such as the five ways of winners:


1. Those who know when to fight and when not to fight
2. Those who know how to use the large or small
3. Those who agree on superior and inferior objectives
4. Those who prepare to lie in wait for the unprepared
5. Those who lead without interference from a ruler


I would definitely recommend reading this book if you have any interest in military tactics or stories of ancient China. I found it intriguing and enjoyable!  


Tata for now,
Abby Rogers

Book #4: The Prince

A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests. 

-Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince

Machiavelli has gotten a pretty bad rep over the years because of his political and moral beliefs. He even has an adjective named after him, Machiavellian, describing a person who is cunning or unscrupulous. The Prince is Machiavelli’s handbook for new rulers, or any ruler who wants to keep his power and doesn’t mind justifying the means with the end. It’s a very realistic book, laying the bare truth out on the table. It says, in effect, “You want to keep your kingdom? I’ll show you how.”

I found this book to be extremely interesting from the psychological standpoint. In a way it is like How to Win Friends and Influence People, only more like, How to Manipulate Friends and Corrupt People Without Being Hated. At one point Machiavelli states, “A son can bear with equanimity the loss of his father, but the loss of his inheritance may drive him to despair.” Also, “The wish to acquire is in truth very natural and common, and men always do so when they can, but when they cannot do so, yet wish to do so by any means, then there is folly and blame." You get a lot of insight into human character. Assuming that Niccolo was correct in all of his observations.

There are several ways to become a prince: 

1. Inherit a throne
2. Acquire a throne by force
3. Be invited to take a throne (I like the idea of being invited to be the ruler of a country).  

Each situation has advantages and disadvantages of its own. Inheriting a throne is the best case scenario, but if you do something terrible your people will probably try to overthrow you no matter how long your family has been ruling them. New principalities are more difficult to handle because if you are unsatisfactory, the rabble will be very willing to rise up and overthrow you for another, convinced that their situation will be improved. Etcetera. 

A quick overview of some of Machiavelli’s beliefs and principles: 

• Self-reliance is key. Depending on mercenaries is a very, very bad idea. They have no real loyalty to your cause and will go to the highest bidder.
• You should acquire a reputation for generosity without actually being very generous. If you give away too much money the people will no longer appreciate it and just want more. Don’t be afraid to be called a miser.
• Don’t be despised and hated! There’s a fine line between necessary violence (wiping out the entire royal family of a usurped ruler), and the kind of needless violence that turns people against you. You can kill them, but don’t touch their property or their women.
• Avoid flatterers at all costs.

So, what do I think of The Prince? It has given me some major inspiration for a story I have rolling around in my head, but as far as actually applying these principles? 

Machiavelli is of the opinion that morality is wonderful in peacetime, but useless when your throne is in danger. I believe that depending on the Lord and obeying His laws is important no matter what is at stake. Lying, murdering, and stealing may pay off in the short-term, but as time goes by I believe that it will come back to bite the Prince that justifies bloodshed and tyranny with retaining power. 

Despite believing that, if one must choose an extreme, it is safer to be feared than loved, Niccolo seems to agree with me on one point, “it cannot be called prowess to kill fellow citizens, to betray friends, to be treacherous, pitiless, or irreligious. These ways can win a prince power but not glory.” 

Book #3: The Problem of Pain

Book #3: The Problem of Pain


"All men alike stand condemned, not by alien codes of ethics, but by their own, and all men therefore are conscious of guilt."
-C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain


C.S. Lewis is one of my all-time favorite authors, a man I admire both for his strong Christian faith and his superb writing style. In his novels Lewis gives the reader a thorough sense of place and empathy with characters; his plotlines are magnificent. In non-fiction Lewis is equally masterful, and though The Problem of Pain will probably never be made into a feature film, it is a challenging, fascinating read.

Many, many people have confronted the Christian faith with the dilemma of God’s goodness in a world of pain. The argument usually runs something like this, “How can a good God allow such suffering?” This is the problem of pain. In language and reasoning that is at times deep and confusing, but eminently sensible, Lewis proves this confounding subject.

Lewis makes many profound points, I couldn't possibly elaborate on them all and risk repeating the book, so I will concentrate on one of the main subjects of POP: the Fall of Man. The book makes a very good point--why do we blame evil on God? Maybe it is the fault of mankind! God is all-powerful, some say, why doesn't He make us be good and not hurt each other? One answer could concerned with free will. The Christian doctrine of free will states that at Creation the Lord decided that He would not make man a mere automaton to do His bidding, but a creature with the power to choose between right and wrong.

Lewis describes the Fall of Man as due to the sin of pride, perhaps the most basic sin because "from the moment a creature becomes aware of God as God and of itself as self, the terrible alternative of choosing God or self for the centre is opened to it." Men "wanted, as we say, to 'call their souls their own.' But that means to live a lie, for our souls are not, in fact, our own." And so humans fell from a divine, spiritual state to become a spoiled species.

God was not surprised by the Fall. Lewis states it so poetically, "God saw the crucifixion in the act of creating the first nebula." And so the Lord did the only thing a truly loving God could do: he provided a way out. That way is, of course, through the sacrifice of Christ, who reversed the sin of Adam and cleared the path for the redemption of the whole world.

The Problem of Pain is full of many other arguments for a loving God in the midst of human suffering. For instance, C.S. Lewis insists that God can do anything--except the intrinsically impossible. He cannot create a society of free persons (individuals with free will and the ability to hurt others) and then stop every negative consequence before it happens; this would result in a completely meaningless universe. Another contention: That love is not incompatible with suffering. An utterly kind deity might protect man from all harm, but a loving God will do what is ultimately best for a beloved creature, even if that means that some suffering must be borne.

I could go on and on, but I think you get the gist. C.S. Lewis is at times baffling, even esoteric, but when I finished the book I felt a little more grounded in the truth of God’s goodness and mercy, even in the face of pain. If you are interested in the never-ending debates on this topic and want a bit of creative, sound reasoning from a respected Christian author, I would whole-heartedly recommend this book for you.



Thanks to a great website resource: http://catholiceducation.org/articles/apologetics/ap0032.html