Comparing Dietrich Bonhoeffer And Martin Luther King

Martin Luther King’s vision for Beloved community stands out as the most captivating desire for human harmony, transcending the lines of racial, ethnic, cultural, gender, and social stratification. It aims to acknowledge and respect the imago Dei, rather than objectify the human individual. It shouts for the display of justice at, both, the local and global landscapes. The call for justice i.e., social justice, dominates conversational points throughout the media, town-hall meetings, demonstrations, and Sunday sermons. There remains, however, an affiliated point of justice rarely considered. Throughout the contents of this essay, I look at the grounding of justice as it relates to God and human relations. I submit that justice – according

Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the most influential figures of the American civil rights movement. Famous for his prowess with words, King was known for writing powerful texts throughout his life. Two of his most famous compositions were his “I Have A Dream” speech and his “Letter From Birmingham Jail”. Although King uses many styles of writing effectively, his writings with pathos are the most prominent. Since “I Have A Dream” uses more pathos than “Letter From Birmingham Jail”, “I Have A Dream” is more effective at inspiring change.

Elegant, wise, and prolific. These are some of the few words to describe the wonderful speaking styles of Martin Luther King Jr and Atticus Finch. In Atticus’s closing argument in Tom Robinson’s case from Harper Lee’s notorious novel, To Kill a MockingBird, and Doctor Martin Luther King’s well known “I Have Dream” speech, both speakers inflict emotions, use facts, and use numerous rhetorical devices to convey their powerful arguments to the their audiences.

“Unfortunately, in some parts of the country, some kids are taught at an early age that being different is somehow bad or wrong or worthy of ridicule.” Society rejects the individuals who “march to a different drum”. People do not cheer for the Tackys, but inadvertently crush their spirits. Although society does not initially cheer for the “Tackys” in the world, history demonstrates that these individuals prove to be the most remembered and the most influential people.

Thesis: Actions, beliefs, and patience are characteristics that are comparable in both the lives of Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela.

Dr. John Vonder Bruegge is the sort of man one may envision dressed in a plush velvet robe, seated in a giant leather chair, encompassed by shelves of ancient leather books, and snacking on cheese and crackers. A Biblical scholar by trade, and a resident of a Dutch community by consequence, Dr. Vonder Bruegge has a unique story to tell. Dr. Vonder Bruegge has wealth of knowledge with a slight pension for performance. He can be found educating throngs of his diligent Biblical pupils at Northwestern College. Dr. Vonder Bruegge is passionate about his job as an educator and a Biblical scholar, engaging his students to grapple with tough questions, even in a small Dutch community like Orange City.

Within Christian communities, enthusiasm to respond to injustice around the world with compassion continues to increase. Regrettably, well-meaning people who have good intentions but neglect to consider best practice principles are ultimately doing a disservice to the individuals and communities they intended to help. Moreover, a lack of understanding of holistic social action results in dependency and disregards the dignity of the poor. In From the Roots Up, Dr. JoAnn Butrin challenges Christians, both individually and as the larger body of Christ- the church, to respond to injustice thoughtfully and holistically. Butrin (2010) asserts:

The ongoing war for social justice in all of its varying facets and regions throughout the globe demands the relentless commitment of a select few individuals whom voluntarily endure immeasurable trials to obtain justice and salvation for the afflicted individuals whom they represent. The willingness to accept criticism and hatred from their peers, the willingness to spend years of their lives in a cold, isolated prison, and the willingness to even sacrifice their own lives for these selfless pursuits grants these individuals the title: hero of faith-based social justice. The unyielding dedication of these heroes to these endeavors of social justice is truly remarkable and can be attributed to one common characteristic: an unusually devout faith in a higher power. I believe that faith can serve as a powerful inspiration for individuals to pursue social justice, and the dedication to one’s faith can influence their commitment to accomplishing their specific goal or mission in the realm of social justice. The acclaimed hero of faith based social justice: William Wilberforce clearly portrays this relationship in his own life experiences as a converted Christian who dedicated his life to the work of social justice.

The Theological Declaration of Barmen written by Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonheoffer and Martin Luther King Jr.’s letter from the Birmingham jail are both very similar. Both writings detail the injustices that were occurring in the Christian community at the time these letters were written. Also, in both instances, these prominent leaders were taking stands against what they believed to be incorrect in regards to the church and it’s standpoint in times of crisis. While written at two different times of upheaval, both of these men stood firm on their beliefs and ideals for the Christian Church. However, their different worldviews and audiences lead to contrasting points among their two issues. While Martin Luther King Jr. approached everything

During Martin Luther King Jr.’s campaign for equal rights, the harassment, beating and killing of African Americans happened on a daily basis. Most members of the white community saw the inequality and brutality, but few from the Church stepped between the African Americans and the bigoted white mob who viewed themselves as higher beings. In his Letter from Birmingham Jail, King expresses his disappointment in the Christian Church for sitting by and even condemning the plight of the African Americans, but taking little to no action when they had the ability to invoke a change in society. If the Church had cast aside its divisions between black and white, then it could have been a major catalyst for change that reinvented America’s society.

King argues that “oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever” and when he addresses his complaints, he is dismissed as an extremist (6-7). By using comprehensive facts to refute the criticisms, logos builds King’s argument against the church leaders, and advocates for the need for a change in mindset.

Whether or not you agree with their views, both Friedrich Nietzsche and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. were great, highly influential men. Their views, though radically different, impacted the world in the greatest of ways, altering history for many nations. While Nietzsche, a German philosopher from the 1800s, spoke from a materialistic point of view, believing that there is no god and that all that exists is matter, King, a civil rights activist of the 1900s, spoke from the belief in transcendence, that there is indeed a god, and that he exists in a divine realm outside of this universe. But not only do these men differ in their backgrounds and religious beliefs, they differ radically in how they believe society should function. In Nietzsche’s writings, he promoted a system that emphasizes will to power. He believed that an aristocracy was the basis for a great society. King, on the other hand, promoted a system of equality and justice. He thought all men were created equal, and that society should reflect that belief. The writings of these men have come to be studied by people everywhere. They are so influential, in fact, that one of them played an incredible role in getting our society to the point that it is today.

Rauschenbusch, Walter. A Theology for the Social Gospel. New York: The MacMillan Company, 1917. 279 pp.

In The Beloved Community: How Faith Shapes Social Justice from the Civil Rights Movement to Today, Charles Marsh argues that the driving and sustaining force of the Civil Rights Movement and its successors was the Christian faith of its leaders. Throughout the novel, Marsh continuously shows how the Christian faith inspired and sustained leaders and everyday people; risking their lives, their family, and their job in hopes of the type of future that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached on. The Beloved Community tells both hopeful and discouraging stories within the larger history of social justice. Marsh makes clear that this history is still being written by those who take seriously their discipleship to Jesus. Hope, he claims, is the resounding

Although we were not saved by works, we are called to respond to God by doing the works he prepared for