Debating Discipleship in the Age of Trump

Many people have attempted to use Bonhoeffer to advance or justify their own views in American politics, with secular, radical, liberal, and evangelical interpreters variously shaping the martyr’s legacy to suit their own pet agendas. In The Battle for Bonhoeffer, Stephen Haynes, a recognized Bonhoeffer expert, sets out to offer a clarifying perspective. Haynes examines and analyzes “populist” readings of Bonhoeffer, including the 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. In addition to the analyses, Haynes includes an open letter addressed to Christians who still support Trump, showing that Bonhoeffer’s legacy matters.

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Stephen R. Haynes is a professor of religious studies at Rhodes College, where his research interests include Jewish-Christian relations, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and religion and higher education.

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