A teleological interpretation of Bonhoeffer’s concept of “A World Come of Age”
Loading...
Date
2023
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Wiley
Abstract
This paper explores Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s concept of “the nonreligious interpretation
of biblical terms in a world come of age,” best known from his Letters and
Papers from Prison (LPP). As a case study of its possibilities, we will survey South
African thinkers who have explored the concept in rapidly changing contexts.
Our leading question is whether academic theology can develop a teleological
narrative for a nation that has “come of age.” When a nation or culture becomes
so secular that it “outgrows” a traditional use of biblical terms, can those terms
be reinterpreted to provide a teleological narrative for the nation? Bonhoeffer
can be a resource for academic theologians to address issues in public theology,
especially the suffering and oppression of communities still in pain despite
a democratic system.
Description
Keywords
Christology, New theology, Other-worldliness, Teleological narrative
Citation
Dankers, P. & Willerton, C. (2023). A teleological interpretation of Bonhoeffer's concept of “A World Come of Age” Dialog, 62(1), 1–12.