The Roots of Antisemitism and Bonhoeffer’s Paradigm of Resistance

Tripp Fuller

The journey through the turbulent years preceding World War II in Germany is a complex narrative that intertwines politics, religion, and individual courage. At the center of our story lies Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a theologian and participant in the resistance against Nazi ideology within the German church. This episode unpacks the depths of Christian antisemitism, the pressures faced within German society, and Bonhoeffer’s ideological and practical responses to these challenges.

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In this episode, we unpack…

Antisemitism and the Cultural Mill of 1933 Germany

During the 1930s, Germany was embroiled in significant social upheaval marked by the rise of Nazi ideology, which sought to solidify an “Aryan identity.” Antisemitism was both a political tool and a cultural norm, exploited by Hitler to shape German society. This era witnessed the passing of the Aryan Paragraph, which excluded those of Jewish descent from civil service, affecting institutions like churches. Bonhoeffer keenly observed how German Christians, caught in a cultural mill of antisemitism, often willingly aligned themselves with Nazi ideals.

Bonhoeffer’s Theological Response: The Church and the Jewish Question

Amidst these societal changes, Bonhoeffer authored the essay “The Church and the Jewish Question.” He advocates for a nuanced response to Nazi policies, challenging both the role of the church in state affairs and the church’s own complicity in antisemitism. Bonhoeffer delineates three forms of action available to the church: questioning the legitimacy of state actions, serving as caretakers for victims of persecution, and potentially opposing the state when it becomes unjust. Despite advocating for resistance, Bonhoeffer was not immune to the era’s pressures, revealing his struggle in personal correspondence regarding a Jewish funeral he refused to conduct.

The Struggle Within: Christianity’s Legacy of Antisemitism

The episode highlights Bonhoeffer’s troubling acknowledgment of Christian antisemitism, which was entrenched in traditional Lutheran teachings. This acknowledgment is painfully evident in some of his writings, which, despite advocating for justice, inadvertently perpetuate age-old stereotypes. Bonhoeffer’s reflections force Christians to confront the dark lineage of antisemitic sentiments within their theological history, urging a re-evaluation of how faith communities engage with Jewish history and individuals.

Resistance and the Confessing Church

In the face of mounting Nazi control, resistance took shape within the German Protestant church. The Confessing Church emerged as a bastion for those opposing the Nazi infiltration into religious spaces. Bonhoeffer, alongside figures like Karl Barth and Martin Niemoller, played critical roles in this movement. Their efforts, however, were met with severe Nazi backlash, typified by threats and the suppression of dissenting voices within church structures.

Seeking Integrity in Crisis

Bonhoeffer’s story is a profound examination of integrity in crisis. His initial attempts to resist through traditional church mechanisms demonstrated a hope that theological truths could correct societal injustices. As history shows, this was not enough. The complexity of Bonhoeffer’s resistance underscores the ongoing struggle of reconciling faith with action, especially when state politics encroach on religious doctrine and identity.

In reflecting on Bonhoeffer’s journey, modern readers are challenged to engage with history intentionally, to understand the intricate dance between church and state, and to actively resist any form of hatred and discrimination perpetuated in the guise of spiritual authority. As we consider these historical intricacies, Bonhoeffer’s legacy invites us all to deliberate how we might navigate similar tensions today, seeking justice while upholding the true essence of faith.

Featured Scholars in this Episode:

Victoria J. Barnett served from 2004-2014 as one of the general editors of the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, the English translation series of Bonhoeffer’s complete works. She has lectured and written extensively about the Holocaust, particularly about the role of the German churches. In 2004 she began directing the Programs on Ethics, Religion, and the Holocaust at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum until her retirement.

Michael DeJonge is Professor and Chair of the Religious Studies department, where he teaches about the history of Christian thought, theories and methods in religious studies, and religion in modern society. He holds the endowed Chair named in memory of James F. Strange, who was a respected colleague and beloved teacher in the department for forty years. He’s been teaching at USF since earning a Ph.D. in Religion from Emory University in 2009. He has been a Fulbright Scholar, a Fellow of the Berlin Program for Advanced German and European Studies, a Volkswagen/Mellon Fellow at the Leibniz-Institute for European History in Mainz, Germany, and Visiting Dietrich Bonhoeffer Professor of Theology and Ethics at Union Theological Seminary in New York.

John Dominic Crossan, professor emeritus at DePaul University, is widely regarded as the foremost historical Jesus scholar of our time. He is the author of several bestselling books, including The Historical Jesus, How to Read the Bible and Still Be a Christian, God and Empire, Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography, The Greatest Prayer, The Last Week, and The Power of Parable. He lives in Minneola, Florida.

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