Bonhoeffer: Prophet and Martyr

In the final days of World War II early one frosty morning a young German pastor was taken from his cell by his Nazi captors and led to his place of execution. Coming from one of Berlins leading families Dietrich Bonhoeffers already brilliant academic and church career was thus brutally terminated. Bonhoeffer found himself in such a strange place for a theologian being one of the very few in the German Church who stood resolutely opposed to the Nazis to the point where he as a one-time pacifist became deeply involved in the conspiratorial plot to kill Hitler and bring down the regime. This course of action saw him enter the murky sphere of secrecy and duplicity as a member of the conspiracy while two-timing the Nazis as a member of military intelligence. Using that official role Bonhoeffer was able to travel and communicate with his international ecumenical contacts as part of the conspiracys attempt to strike a deal with the Allies to end the war. From a dark period Dietrich Bonhoeffer brave and resolute stands as a bright and shining light. Dietrich Bonhoeffers life and work has been appropriated by a diverse range of theologians and Christian social activists. John Queripels contribution to that long list is especially creative not simply because it is conveyed through drama but because one senses a powerful authenticity in the script which arises from the convergence between Bonhoeffers story and the history of the playwright himself grounded as both are in contextualism and orthopraxis. --Noel Preston adjunct Professor in Applied Ethics Griffith University (Australia) Playwright John Queripel pushes all acquainted with Bonhoeffers discipleship to starkly confront the ethical dilemmas arising from his remarkably enduring ministry. This work has been Johns consuming passion for many years: its publication alerts us all to what Bonhoeffer continues to say and worthily joins the ever-expanding corpus of enlightened studies that enriches theology today. --Stephen Moore founding convenor Australian Bonhoeffer Conference Bonhoeffers message and example are as vital today as they were in the 1940s. This book provides a wonderful introduction to the life and thinking of Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffers example and this book are a great inspiration to us all. --Keith Suter Managing Director www.global-directions.com John Henry Queripel is a minister of the Uniting Church in Australia author and community activist. He has worked in the prison system the university sector as a teacher and is the recipient of a number of awards for his community involvement. He is a writer singer-songwriter a poet an artist and enjoys riding a Malibu. He has long held an interest in Dietrich Bonhoeffer.