The Leibholz-Schmitt connection’s formative influence on Bonhoeffer’s 1932–33 entry into public theology
Date
2018
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Pieter de Waal Neethling Trust
Abstract
Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s brother-in-law Gerhard Leibholz’s insight into the Fascist
theory of the state’s messianic leadership and myth of creating communal life became
a major source of information for Bonhoeffer. Leibholz had gained this knowledge
in close jurisprudential cooperation with Carl Schmitt as is evidenced by Leibholz’s
1929 habilitation thesis which at the same time intersected with Bonhoeffer’s academic
work. Their original political leanings towards authoritarianism, Volk, and Vitalism
were revised by Bonhoeffer and Leibholz in November 1932 through stepping out into
a coordinated public opposition to the approaching political changes. But both only
recognized the populist xenophobic destructiveness of such a life, hidden beneath the
myth of unity, once Schmitt turned to National Socialism in early 1933. Bonhoeffer’s
theology, built on the Leibholz-Schmitt discourse, remains a call for vigilance against
the abuse of power, populism, and xenophobia, and continues to call for seeking Godrevealed
life.
Description
CITATION: Radler, K. S. 2018. The Leibholz-Schmitt connection’s formative influence on Bonhoeffer’s 1932–33 entry into public theology. Stellenbosch Theological Journal, 4(2):683-702, doi:10.17570/stj.2018.v4n2.a31.
The original publication is available at https://ojs.reformedjournals.co.za/stj
The original publication is available at https://ojs.reformedjournals.co.za/stj
Keywords
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich, 1906-1945
Citation
Radler, K. S. 2018. The Leibholz-Schmitt connection’s formative influence on Bonhoeffer’s 1932–33 entry into public theology. Stellenbosch Theological Journal, 4(2):683-702, doi:10.17570/stj.2018.v4n2.a31