Bonhoeffer and the Responsibility for a Coming Generation - (T&t Clark New Studies in Bonhoeffer's Theology and Ethics) (Hardcover)

About the Book

"This volume draws together a selection of high-quality presentations at the 13th International Bonhoeffer Congress held in January 2020 in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The theme of the conference was "How a coming generation is to go on living? Bonhoeffer and the response to our present crisis and hope." The selected essays, drawn from contributors throughout the world, engage thoroughly and creatively with this concern to take responsibility not only for our own personal and communal life but also for the ethos and society that future generations will inherit from us"--

Book Synopsis

This volume draws together a selection of high-quality presentations at the 13th International Bonhoeffer Congress held in January 2020 in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The theme of the conference was "How a coming generation is to go on living? Bonhoeffer and the response to our present crisis and hope." The selected essays engage thoroughly and creatively with this concern to take responsibility not only for our own personal and communal life in all of its complexity and richness but also for the ethos and society that future generations will inherit from us.

The pertinence of Bonhoeffer's question is addressed in these contributions anew as we experience threats on a global level to socio-political, economic and inter-religious stability and solidarity. Attention is also given to some important challenges experienced in the so-called global South, and the reality of climate change and ecological devastation implies that the question of how future generations are going to go on living is linked to the fact that we live on a planet that is in jeopardy. Also included as an appendix is the powerful sermon preached by the South African Anglican archbishop of Cape Town Thabo Makgoba at the opening worship service of the congress.

Review Quotes

Dietrich Bonhoeffer's enduring influence as a young pastor and symbol of resistance against Nazism resonates globally, offering support and guidance to people of faith and non-believers alike. The discussions surrounding Bonhoeffer and the Responsibility for a Coming Generation underscore the vital significance of his essays, intertwining his thoughts, theology, and ethics with contemporary dilemmas. Bonhoeffer's impact extends beyond his time, shaping societal movements such as the fight against apartheid in South Africa and the pursuit of reconciliation in Rwanda. His theology continues to inspire resistance against injustice and oppression worldwide, making him a beacon of hope and guidance. John D. Godsey aptly recognizes Bonhoeffer's foresight, emphasizing his theology's relevance in navigating the Church's future challenges. Bonhoeffer's life and teachings serve as a constant reminder that true faith requires sacrificial love, echoing Christ's own path. His legacy remains a theological beacon, offering invaluable insights for addressing present and future aspirations, from promoting human dignity to fostering peace and reconciliation on a global scale.
Pascal Bataringaya, The Presbyterian Church in Rwanda, Rwanda.

This insightful collection of essays reveals the depth of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's enduring legacy for our unsettled times. Selected from papers given at the 13th International Bonhoeffer Congress in Stellenbosch, South Africa, scholars from around the world have taken up Bonhoeffer's question, "how is the coming generation to go on living?" in relation to topics such as intergenerational trauma, the climate crisis, and political conflict. In a world that continues to be rocked by ongoing and escalating crises, including a global pandemic and multiple wars, this question, these explorations, and Bonhoeffer's exhortations to act and to hope are necessary now more than ever.
Lori Brandt Hale, Augsburg University, USA

About the Author

Robert Vosloo is Professor of Systematic Theology, Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.

Teddy Sakupapa is Senior Lecturer in Ecumenical Studies and Social Ethics, University of the Western Cape, South Africa.

Karola Radler is Research Fellow and Research Associate in Systematic Theology at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Ashwin Thyssen is Junior Lecturer of Church Polity, Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.