Beyond, in the midst of life: An exploration of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's religionless Christianity in its Christological context

The German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–1945) understood Western civilisation to be “approaching a completely religionless age.” He was sure, too, that Christianity could neither afford to deny nor to ignore this reality if it was to survive as a credible expression of faith in Jesus Christ. This thesis explores Bonhoeffer’s response to this challenge—his concept of a religionless Christianity—and its place in his broader theology. It does this, first, by situating the concept in a present-day Western socio-historical context. It then considers Bonhoeffer’s understanding and critique of religion, before examining the religionless Christianity of his final months in the light of his earlier Christ-centred theology. The work of non-religious interpretation, and the place of mystery, paradox, and wholeness in Bonhoeffer’s thinking, are also given careful attention—and non-religious interpretation is taken seriously as an ongoing task. The thesis seeks to present religionless Christianity as a lucid and persuasive contemporary expression of systematic theology. It does this always in the presence of the question which inspired Bonhoeffer’s theological journey from its academic beginnings to its very deliberately lived end—the question “Who is Jesus Christ?”