April 1, 2004
Although he died at the hands of the Nazis, Dietrich Bonhoeffer has remained a significant figure both in popular and in scholarly circles to the present time. These two excellent books by Haynes (religion, Rhodes Coll.; Noah's Curse: The Biblical Justification for Slavery in America) and Slane (theology, Simpson Coll., Redding, CA) attest to this remarkable fact in different ways. Haynes examines the various ways in which Bonhoeffer has been interpreted. Instead of attempting to discover the true, "historical" Bonhoeffer, Haynes believes significant insight can be found through a consideration of the various portraits or perspectives concerning him. In separate chapters, he discusses the radical Bonhoeffer (seer), the liberal Bonhoeffer (prophet), the conservative Bonhoeffer (apostle), and the universal Bonhoeffer (bridge). Slane, on the other hand, makes an effective case for Bonhoeffer being considered a martyr, discussing the concept of the martyr as it relates to social responsibility. He views the theologian's life as pointing toward his impending death and interprets the works of Bonhoeffer through this martyrological perspective, finding fresh insights. Both books are recommended for scholarly religion and ethics collections.-John Jaeger, Dallas Baptist Univ. Lib., TX
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