The Battle for Bonhoeffer

By: Stephen R. Haynes

Narrated by: Trevor Thompson

The figure of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) has become a clay puppet in modern American politics. Secular, radical, liberal, and evangelical interpreters variously shape and mold the martyr’s legacy to suit their own pet agendas.

Stephen Haynes offers an incisive and clarifying perspective. A recognized Bonhoeffer expert, Haynes examines “populist” readings of Bonhoeffer, including the acclaimed biography by Eric Metaxas, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. In his analysis Haynes treats, among other things, the November 2016 election of Donald Trump and the “Bonhoeffer moment” announced by evangelicals in response to the US Supreme Court’s 2015 decision to legalize same-sex marriage.

The Battle for Bonhoeffer includes an open letter from Haynes pointedly addressing Christians who still support Trump. Bonhoeffer’s legacy matters. Haynes redeems the life and the man.

©2018 Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (P)2018 Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Compelling and timely

This book was a terrific one to listen to on a cross-country road trip. Parts 1 and 2 give a really accessible and highly informative historical understanding of the way Bonhoeffer has been viewed, used and discussed by Americans since his execution. I learned a great deal about Bonhoeffer's role in academia and the popular and political mind. But perhaps the best part of the book for me, as a non-scholar who still values critical academic analysis, was Part 3, "Triumph of the Populist Bonhoeffer". Haynes chronicles the way Bonhoeffer has been molded by evangelicals and liberals in recent years with a broad analysis of the writings, television transcript excerpts, blog postings, newspaper columns, and other sources devoted to Bonhoeffer from the full spectrum of political and religious thought. This portion was an important look back for me as I try to make some sense of the extraordinary times we are living through. Haynes' Open Letter to Evangelicals at the book's conclusion is powerful. It is a heartfelt and candid challenge that left me pondering more broadly the role of all Christians (including me) in this tumultuous political time.

Thought Provoking.

Haynes presents a great overview of the use and misuse of the Bonhoeffer legacy by conservatives, liberals and even, athiests. Regardless of political persuasion, this book reminds us of the importance of honest presentation and application of historical figures and events to modern society, lest we create a wax nose Bonhoeffer in our own image. If you have an interest in Bonhoeffer l would encourage the reading of this book but even more, and l am sure the author agrees, ad fontes, back to the sources, read Bonhoeffer himself.

Makes you think

Slow at the start. Definitely full of information about Bonhoeffer and the state of our country today.

Reclaiming Bonhoeffer from Misappropriation

Not exactly what I was expecting ...

Narration was as expected within a lecture stye presentation where it is tough to break out.

The book itself covers a number of examples where the right wing of the christian evangelical movement incorrectly appropriated the legacy of Bonhoeffer to support their struggle to demonize their opponents in what they see as a culture war. In particular, this book highlights significant scholastic deficiencies with the work of Eric Metaxas (Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy) that was used to launch their current fasciation and association with Bonhoeffer's fight against the WWII Nazi regime.

I was given this free advance listener copy (ALC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

#TheBattleForBonhoeffer #AudibookFree

Great for someone familiar with Bohnoeffer

I think this is a audiobook that would be better appreciated by someone very familiar with Bonhoeffer; if I were more familiar with this famous Christian, and with other works about him, I would have liked it even more. I enjoyed learning about the "misappropriation" of Bonhoeffer by those from whom Bonhoeffer would, perhaps, not have associated with.

I am very grateful that I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request; I have voluntarily left this review.