Dietrich Bonhoeffer : Bonhoeffer's 'religionless Christianity' and his 'non-religious interpretation of biblical concepts' in light of Bonhoeffer's ecumenism

This thesis takes a fresh look at Dietrich Bonhoeffer's 'religionless Christianity' and his 'non-religious interpretation of biblical concepts', investigating the question whether a deeper insight into the meaning of those concepts may be gained when taking Bonhoeffer's thought on oikoumene into account. After giving a general overview of research to date on both 'religionless Christianity' and on Bonhoeffer's ecumenism in the first two chapters, the following three chapters embark on the investigation ofthe two theses formulated in the Preface to this thesis. It encompasses, ftrstly, an exploration of Bonhoeffer's core theology, which results in the conclusion that an ecumenicity in substance is to be found in Bonhoeffer's overall theology from its very inception. In a second step, the investigation focuses on Bonhoeffer's many varied ecumenical encounters throughout the years and explores their theological impact on him. Thirdly, taking into account that, although having its roots in Luther's theology and never compromising fimdamental Reformation positions ofdoctrine, the core ecumenicity ofBonhoeffer's theology combined with his ecumenical encounters tum his theology into something distinctly new, the question is explored in what way both Bonhoeffer's core ecumenical thought and his ecumenical encounters inform his entire theology right through to his late theological ruminations in his letters from Tegel prison concerning 'religionless Christianity' and the new theological language required to bring Christ to a world 'come of age'. In the ftnal chapter ofthe thesis, on the basis ofthe socio-political and cultural zeitgeist ofBonhoeffer's time, the relevance ofBonhoeffer's late theology for the contemporary world and church at the beginning ofthe twenty-ftrst century is considered.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo