Very difficult book to read under any circumstances. The biography is about a wonderful beloved human being who was devoted to Christ and led the efforts of the Protestant Churches in Germany to stand against Hitler. The efforts failed.

Following a deliberate strategy of (1) taking over media and lying to the public, and (2) claiming to represent "the people", the Nazi thugs managed to seize control of the most prosperous, educated, and religious nation in the world.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a moral giant. He spoke clearly against liars, and those who distort the purposes of church and government. He bravely made a stand--writing, speaking, organizing.

While the Nazi Party was propagandizing its way to power, he asked the German Churches, "do you not hear the lies?" He quoted Proverbs 31:8, challenging the Church to "Speak out for those who cannot speak!"

Hitler's decade of lecturing to soldiers about "Patriotism" seamlessly moved to media monopolization. The physical Nazi takeover, however, actually started with the Churches. Hitler crippled them, systematically, with constant media claims and lies.

Hitler's attack on Germany was funded by massive amounts of cash from nationalist plutocrats. By the time of the "Rohm Affair" -- in the summer of 1934 -- Nazi hate-mongering had filled Germany. After Hitler ordered the massacre of his own SA militia, decent people were so relieved that these thugs were killed, "there was no protest at the time, from anyone whatsoever...". [165].

In September 1940, this world-famous theologian was banned from public speaking. In 1941, he was forbidden to publish. In 1943, the German resistance made attempts to assassinate Hitler. Bonhoeffer was arrested and imprisoned without trial. He was placed in Buchenwald, then Regensburg. In 1945, as the War was ending, he and other friends and theologians were executed.

Bonhoeffer clearly and specifically declaimed Nazi atrocities to all well-known to Christian theologians throughout the world. He pointedly argued that Jesus represented God's suffering in the world, and served to call human beings to act to bring justice. For the year he studied in the USA at Union Theological Seminary 1930/31, his concept of Santorum communio (fellowship of the saints) was very real, informed, and committed. [75]

As nationalism heated up the economic trials endured by congregants, and youth organizations were being invaded by faux "students" and as the Brown Shirts were parading, Bonhoeffer warned the Churches. "We are no longer reading the Bible seriously; we are no longer reading it against ourselves, but only in our own favour." [92] By 1932 he was spelling out the moral calamity already upon the Churches.

Compared to the serial liar in the Whitehouse today, virtually every American I have ever had the privilege of getting to know, is a moral giant. Yet where has the Church been? Did you hear a single Church leader rise up like Jeremiah and condemn the rich, greedy liars?

Did you hear a single Church leader asking "Who speaks for those who cannot speak?" I may not be the modern "equivalent" of Bonhoeffer, here in another great prosperous and educated nation which is being taken over by a tyrant regime. But I am inspired by Bonhoeffer. I will repudiate every lie that I hear. ( )

THE definitive biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German Lutheran pastor, theologian, and martyr. ( )