The horrors and aftermath of World War I shook European Protestantism to its core. The promises and hopes of Protestant liberalism seen in the nineteenth century evaporated as Europe, seen as the cradle of Christendom, moved beyond Christendom. In this gap, what were once strongholds of Protestantism such as Germany, Scandinavia, and Great Britain witnessed a rise in secularism and skepticism.
The theological response to the rise of secularism is seen in the work of Karl Barth, the son of a Swiss Reformed pastor. Barth published his commentary on Romans in 1919. Barth followed this with his work titled, “Christian Dogmatics,” which was published in 1927. The thesis of this work is not that of the Christian Faith, but the Word of God. His final work, which was never completed, but still seen, as the great theological moment of the twentieth century is the …show more content…
As the Third Reich assumed power and signed a concordant with the Vatican, Protestant Liberals, who taught the perfectibility of the human race had insufficient theological grounds to oppose the message of racial superiority and German Arianism of Hitler and the propaganda of the Nazi Party. However, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a young theologian and pastor in London, returned to Germany and stood against the Third Reich. He published his famous work titled, “The Cost of Discipleship” in 1937. This work applied the message given by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount to contemporary living during this prelude to war. After facing much persecution, Bonhoeffer stand against the Nazi led to his eventual arrest by the Gestapo in 1943. During his time in a concentration camp, Bonhoeffer continued his work, winning respect from the guards and fellow prisoners. During his imprisonment, he continued to write. Towards the end of the war, Bonhoeffer faced a court martial and condemned to death. He died on April 9,
The theological response to the rise of secularism is seen in the work of Karl Barth, the son of a Swiss Reformed pastor. Barth published his commentary on Romans in 1919. Barth followed this with his work titled, “Christian Dogmatics,” which was published in 1927. The thesis of this work is not that of the Christian Faith, but the Word of God. His final work, which was never completed, but still seen, as the great theological moment of the twentieth century is the …show more content…
As the Third Reich assumed power and signed a concordant with the Vatican, Protestant Liberals, who taught the perfectibility of the human race had insufficient theological grounds to oppose the message of racial superiority and German Arianism of Hitler and the propaganda of the Nazi Party. However, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a young theologian and pastor in London, returned to Germany and stood against the Third Reich. He published his famous work titled, “The Cost of Discipleship” in 1937. This work applied the message given by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount to contemporary living during this prelude to war. After facing much persecution, Bonhoeffer stand against the Nazi led to his eventual arrest by the Gestapo in 1943. During his time in a concentration camp, Bonhoeffer continued his work, winning respect from the guards and fellow prisoners. During his imprisonment, he continued to write. Towards the end of the war, Bonhoeffer faced a court martial and condemned to death. He died on April 9,