Bonhoeffer on Liturgy: Christological Encounter and Identity 123 views

While Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s earlier writings on liturgy have been resourced for pastoral purposes, his theological insights into liturgy have largely been left untouched. This is especially true for his later writings after his return to Germany from New York in 1939. On a popular level, Life Together and Discipleship tend to be the focus of any discussion of Christian practice in Bonhoeffer’s writings. Indeed, these two books provide enthusiastic discussions about liturgical practices in the Church; however, Life Together and Discipleship do not feature many of Bonhoeffer’s mature theological themes, such as religionless and worldly Christianity. This thesis will demonstrate the integral value of liturgy in Bonhoeffer’s later writings. Specifically, Conspiracy and Imprisonment (letters and papers from 1940-1945), Ethics, and Letters and Papers from Prison will be the key resources supporting this argument. In short, Bonhoeffer argues in his later writings that Christian liturgies and practices are key parts of life by showing that they (1) build connection to Christ and (2) shape Christian identity.

MA (Master of Arts)

Bonhoeffer; Liturgy ; Practice ; Christology ; Christian Identity

English

2026-04-29