Human Subjectivity 'in Christ' in Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Theology

Jacob Phillips presents a critical study of a neglected aspect of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's theology: his writing on human subjectivity self-reflection and individual identity 'in Christ'. In response to the rise of chronic self-representation through digital technology Phillips argues that Bonhoeffer presents a radical challenge maintaining that - from the perspective of Christian theology - there is something deeply negative about beholding representations of oneself. Bonhoeffer instead holds that discipleship means adopting a posture of radical agnosticism toward one's own identity. <br/> <br/> Phillips focuses on the interrelation of 'simplicity' and 'reflection' in theological cognition and ethical deliberation showing a wider significance in contemporary theological anthropology soteriology and ethics. By following the tradition of reading Bonhoeffer in relation to the philosophical sources such as Wüstenberg Janz Whitson-Floyd Marsh Zimmermann Gregor Phillips highlights the ways in which Bonhoeffer's work relates to modern debates in epistemology and ethics generally and that of Wilhelm Dilthey and hermeneutical phenomenology in particular. This volume offers a detailed theological analysis of the themes of self-identity human subjectivity and self-understanding which are highly pertinent for contemporary society.