Bonhoeffer's Trip to America and The Barmen Declaration

BONHOEFFER’S TRIP TO AMERICA (1939) Between fear and duty His decisions under the influence of social, historical and theological factors By Tim Wenninger [This 2016 term paper is translated from the German on the Internet, www.grin.com.] 1. Introduction The decision to write a term paper about Dietrich Bonhoeffer was of personal interest to me. What moves a person to stand up completely for his faith and other people? How did Bonhoeffer decide to leave the country and return to Germany? Which factors played a role? These and other questions interested me and will be answered in the course of the work to elaborate Bonhoeffer's point of view, motives and beliefs. The main work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's is Volume 15, which contains many of Bonhoeffer's letters and some of his diary entries from the period 1937-1940. By increasing the number of direct quotations, Bonhoeffer's point of view and thoughts will be authentically reproduced. The work is divided into three temporal sections. The political and church situation before Bonhoeffer's departure, his time in America and his return to Germany and the effect of his stay on Bonhoeffer. Embedded in the historical context, the work will show how Bonhoeffer's decisionmaking was influenced by fear and a sense of duty. At the beginning of the work, the time before Bonhoeffer's departure will be sketched, in particular, at the socio-political situation in Germany and to what extent this affected his departure. Bonhoeffer's Christian convictions and his involvement in the Confessing Church are also considered to better understand his decision. In the following, Bonhoeffer's reasons for his departure and the related preparations are elaborated. What events led Bonhoeffer to leave his family, work and home behind? Afterwards the time in America is outlined. What made Bonhoeffer think about a possible return shortly after his departure? How strong was Bonhoeffer's attachment to Germany and what role did his sense of duty play in this decision? Finally, Bonhoeffer's return to Germany will be discussed. Which tasks did Bonhoeffer pursue and to what extent did his stay in the USA have an impact on his future decisions? 2. The influence of political and church developments in Germany on Bonhoeffer's departure from the USA 2.1 Politics and the church After the National Socialists seized power in 1933, the church also became a focus of Hitler's interests. Hitler repeatedly used pseudo-religious confessions in his speeches and tried to convey the impression of a Christian statesman. Furthermore, he reintroduced religious education as a proper school subject.[1] With this concession and the assurance