March 21, 2025

In an article published by Religion News titled “Both right and left claim Bonhoeffer as a champion. Here’s why his ideas fit neither,” Charles Marsh explores the legacy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s politics, particularly how he is used by both the right and left as a champion, when his Christian behavior and attitude fit neither.

Excerpt: “In the decades since he was executed in Germany for crimes of high treason, Dietrich Bonhoeffer has become one of the most celebrated religious thinkers of our time, inspiring many of our era’s most influential leaders, intellectuals and artists, from Desmond Tutu and Vaclav Havel to Jimmy Carter, Angela Merkel and U2’s Bono. He is a model to millions more who confront the blood-stained face of history with courage and conviction… But with the adoration of Bonhoeffer’s legacy comes sharp disagreement over its meaning and political uses.”

Read the full article here.