Overview

Dietrich Bonhoeffer publicly confronted Nazism and anti-Semitic racism in Hitler's Germany. The Reich's political ideology, when mixed with theology of the German Christian movement, turned Jesus into a divine representation of the ideal, racially pure Aryan and allowed race-hate to become part of Germany's religious life. Bonhoeffer provided a Christian response to Nazi atrocities.In this book author Reggie L. Williams follows Bonhoeffer as he defies Germany with Harlem's black Jesus. The Christology Bonhoeffer learned in Harlem's churches featured a black Christ who suffered with African Americans in their struggle against systemic injustice and racial violence—and then resisted. In the pews of the Abyssinian Baptist Church, under the leadership of Adam Clayton Powell, Sr., Bonhoeffer absorbed the Christianity of the Harlem Renaissance. This Christianity included a Jesus who stands with the oppressed rather than joins the oppressors and a theology that challenges the way God can be used to underwrite a union of race and religion. Now featuring a foreword from world-renowned Bonhoeffer scholar Ferdinand Schlingensiepen as well as multiple revisions and corrections, Bonhoeffer's Black Jesus argues that the black American narrative led Dietrich Bonhoeffer to the truth that obedience to Jesus requires concrete historical action. This ethic of resistance not only indicted the church of the German Volk, but also continues to shape the nature of Christian discipleship today.

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9781481315852

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Bonhoeffer's Black Jesus stands as a turning point in Bonhoeffer scholarship while offering a fresh and constructive approach to theological ethics in its vision for empathic resistance and solidarity with the oppressed. --Timothy Dwight Davis Anglican Theological Review ... a highly significant study of Bonhoeffer's powerfully formative theological development inside the crucible and sublime beauty of Harlem. It is required reading for anyone seeking a more complex, constructive, and provocative view of Bonhoeffer, especially as it provides a dark-hued and somewhat contested thesis that will surely establish a new benchmark for the vigorous discussions and debates to come regarding Bonhoeffer's Christological and ethical embrace of racial alterity and Christian identity. --James S. Logan Modern Theology ... What should the reflective life of a global Christian look like? Williams' Bonhoeffer brings us close and paves the way for deeper reflection on the impact of Bonhoeffer's global ministry on his theology. --William Young Black Theology: An International Journal In addition to the exploration of Bonhoeffer's time in Harlem, this book raises important considerations about scholarship and pedagogy that would benefit a broad audience. Williams, using Bonhoeffer's own words, emphasizes that his early theology had been a demonstration of intellect rather than an expression of faith. --Courtney H. Davis Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics Reggie Williams' Bonhoeffer's Black Jesus... breaks new ground in offeringa detailed and vibrant portrait of the Harlem Renaissance that was in full blossom during Bonhoeffer's time in New York. --Victoria J. Barnett Contemporary Church History Quarterly Williams' exploration is a welcome journey into a domain of praxiological substance in a contemporary age where vain ideologies, boisterous pathologies, and impotent philosophies have become normative impersonations of meaningful commitment. His historical framing is invaluable, as he refreshingly covers the development and depth of Bonhoeffer's thought. --Kevin Dudley Journal of Lutheran Ethics Williams' prose is enthralling, and he successfully engages in meaningful dialog with earlier literature in ethics, theology, and black studies. His book is a welcome effort to bridge our understanding of Bonhoeffer's actions in Germany with motivations inherited from Black America. It might be useful in both undergraduate and graduate settings. --Paul Hillmer Lutheran Quarterly

"Bonhoeffer's Black Jesus stands as a turning point in Bonhoeffer scholarship while offering a fresh and constructive approach to theological ethics in its vision for empathic resistance and solidarity with the oppressed. --Timothy Dwight Davis ""Anglican Theological Review"" ... a highly significant study of Bonhoeffer's powerfully formative theological development inside the crucible and sublime beauty of Harlem. It is required reading for anyone seeking a more complex, constructive, and provocative view of Bonhoeffer, especially as it provides a dark-hued and somewhat contested thesis that will surely establish a new benchmark for the vigorous discussions and debates to come regarding Bonhoeffer's Christological and ethical embrace of racial alterity and Christian identity. --James S. Logan ""Modern Theology"" ... What should the reflective life of a global Christian look like? Williams' Bonhoeffer brings us close and paves the way for deeper reflection on the impact of Bonhoeffer's global ministry on his theology. --William Young ""Black Theology: An International Journal"" In addition to the exploration of Bonhoeffer's time in Harlem, this book raises important considerations about scholarship and pedagogy that would benefit a broad audience. Williams, using Bonhoeffer's own words, emphasizes that his early theology had been a demonstration of intellect rather than an expression of faith. --Courtney H. Davis ""Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics"" Reggie Williams' Bonhoeffer's Black Jesus... breaks new ground in offeringa detailed and vibrant portrait of the Harlem Renaissance that was in full blossom during Bonhoeffer's time in New York. --Victoria J. Barnett ""Contemporary Church History Quarterly"" Williams' exploration is a welcome journey into a domain of praxiological substance in a contemporary age where vain ideologies, boisterous pathologies, and impotent philosophies have become normative impersonations of meaningful commitment. His historical framing is invaluable, as he refreshingly covers the development and depth of Bonhoeffer's thought. --Kevin Dudley ""Journal of Lutheran Ethics"" Williams' prose is enthralling, and he successfully engages in meaningful dialog with earlier literature in ethics, theology, and black studies. His book is a welcome effort to bridge our understanding of Bonhoeffer's actions in Germany with motivations inherited from Black America. It might be useful in both undergraduate and graduate settings. --Paul Hillmer ""Lutheran Quarterly"""

"Williams invites readers to leave behind the romantic image of a white Jesus, moving beyond it to articulate thoughtfully the representative action of a Palestinian Christ who experienced necropolitics on the way to the cross. In this way, Bonhoeffer's Black Jesus challenges the formation of young theologians today: to learn from historical engagement, to face current ideological and religious oppressions, and to journey in vulnerability, mutual learning and action towards justice and peace. --Samuel Murillo Torres ""Modern Believing"" Bonhoeffer's Black Jesus stands as a turning point in Bonhoeffer scholarship while offering a fresh and constructive approach to theological ethics in its vision for empathic resistance and solidarity with the oppressed. --Timothy Dwight Davis ""Anglican Theological Review"" ... a highly significant study of Bonhoeffer's powerfully formative theological development inside the crucible and sublime beauty of Harlem. It is required reading for anyone seeking a more complex, constructive, and provocative view of Bonhoeffer, especially as it provides a dark-hued and somewhat contested thesis that will surely establish a new benchmark for the vigorous discussions and debates to come regarding Bonhoeffer's Christological and ethical embrace of racial alterity and Christian identity. --James S. Logan ""Modern Theology"" ... What should the reflective life of a global Christian look like? Williams' Bonhoeffer brings us close and paves the way for deeper reflection on the impact of Bonhoeffer's global ministry on his theology. --William Young ""Black Theology: An International Journal"" In addition to the exploration of Bonhoeffer's time in Harlem, this book raises important considerations about scholarship and pedagogy that would benefit a broad audience. Williams, using Bonhoeffer's own words, emphasizes that his early theology had been a demonstration of intellect rather than an expression of faith. --Courtney H. Davis ""Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics"" Reggie Williams' Bonhoeffer's Black Jesus... breaks new ground in offeringa detailed and vibrant portrait of the Harlem Renaissance that was in full blossom during Bonhoeffer's time in New York. --Victoria J. Barnett ""Contemporary Church History Quarterly"" Williams' exploration is a welcome journey into a domain of praxiological substance in a contemporary age where vain ideologies, boisterous pathologies, and impotent philosophies have become normative impersonations of meaningful commitment. His historical framing is invaluable, as he refreshingly covers the development and depth of Bonhoeffer's thought. --Kevin Dudley ""Journal of Lutheran Ethics"" Williams' prose is enthralling, and he successfully engages in meaningful dialog with earlier literature in ethics, theology, and black studies. His book is a welcome effort to bridge our understanding of Bonhoeffer's actions in Germany with motivations inherited from Black America. It might be useful in both undergraduate and graduate settings. --Paul Hillmer ""Lutheran Quarterly"""

Author Information

Reggie L. Williams is Professor of Christian Ethics at McCormick Theological Seminary. He is a member of the International Dietrich Bonhoeffer Society, as well as the Society for the Study of Black Religion, and a founding member of the Society for the Study of Race, Ethnicity and Religion.

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