Bonhoeffer and King: Their Legacies and Import for Christian Social Thought

by Willis Jenkins, Jennifer M. McBride (Editor)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther King, Jr. -- these giants of recent Christian social thought are here reassessed for a new context and a new generation. Both combined activism, ministry, and theology. Both took on public roles in opposition to prevailing powers of their respective causes. Here many of the leaders in Christian social thought revisit the insights, causes, and strategies that Bonhoeffer and King employed for a new generation and its race, reconciliation, nonviolence, political violence, Christian theological identity, and ministry.

320 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2010

About the author

Willis Jenkins studies intersections of environmental and cultural change. He focuses in his own research on ethical and religious dimensions, while directing several multi-disciplinary research collaborations that engage local knowledges, including a major project on coastal change in Virginia.

Reviews

[Adam Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short Review: Bonhoeffer and King is a series of 18 essays that all look at different aspects of how King and Bonhoeffer together left a legacy on modern Christian social thought. I have read a number of books about both of them and I still learned a number of new things about both. Even though their deaths were 24 years apart, they were both 39 when they were killed, both in April. Both had PhDs but were known for their practical theology as well as their intellectual work. Both were significantly impacted by the Black church, although that is probably an under-appriciated fact for Bonhoeffer. And both were far from perfect. Part of what is helpful about this book is that it is attempting to keep the look at these two from narrowing how we allow them to speak to us.

Saints or heroes can have their influence become idealized. It is I think easier to see with MLK, but we often want to see King as having a dream but not as one that spoke as much about poverty and against war and violence as he did about other subjects. The fact that one of King's famous speeches, against the appeal to materialism and for the more important things to live could be turned into a Superbowl commercial to sell trucks shows how far we are from actually understanding what King was about.

Because these are independent essays, I meandered through the book over about 10 weeks. But it is worth reading and frankly one of the better books I have read on either of them. It isn't perfect, no book of essays by 18 different authors is. But it is good.

My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/bonhoeffer-and-king/

[Rev. Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A text for a Brite Divinity Fall 2017 course in Contemporary Ethics class - an interesting comparison of Bonhoeffer and King and their theological stances from the perspective of eighteen different author/theologians - From the publisher: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther King, Jr.-- these giants of recent Christian social thought are here reassessed for a new context and a new generation. Both combined activism, ministry, and theology. Both took on public roles in opposition to prevailing powers of their respective causes. Here many of the leaders in Christian social thought revisit the insights, causes, and strategies that Bonhoeffer and King employed for a new generation and its concerns: race, reconciliation, nonviolence, political violence, Christian theological identity, and ministry.

[Jared Donis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book turned out to be an unexpected treasure! I’m doubtful if there is a better summary and analysis of the ideals of these two Christian martyrs. Excellent work!

[Andrew Marr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A useful and provocative collection of essays on these two great theologians and actors. Thorny issues, especially Bonhoeffer's involvement in a plot to assassinate Hitler are examined,not in the sense of giving final answers, but in the sense of entering into the mystery of that decision. King & Bonhoeffer are both inspiring and problematic, but for me at least, more inspiring than problematic. Highly recommended to anyone concerned with Christianity & social witness and to all else who ought to be.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I haven't yet read every article in this collection of essays, this is a great starting place for delving into the social thought of two of the 20th century's behemoths.