He was a preacher, writer and lecturer. He stood up to Adolf Hitler and the anti-Christian bullying by the Nazis. For that, he was executed.
Now, the Dietrich Bonhoeffer story is the subject of a movie in American theaters. A group of Alabama Methodists have rented an entire auditorium at an AMC Theater in Mobile. They will hold a private viewing of the film on Saturday at the AMC Mobile 16.
Tickets for this private viewing can be purchased by scanning the QR code below or calling 724-889-6754.
After the viewing, there will be a debriefing by means of a Zoom call.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor in Germany during the rise and dominance of Adolph Hitler and the Nazi party, before and during World War II. He was one of a minority of Christian leaders who stood up to the Nazis. He was a founder and leader of the anti-Nazi "The Confessing Church."
Bonhoeffer had written on the role of Christianity in the secular world. His 1937 books "The Cost of Discipleship" and "Life Together" are influential to this day.
Bonhoeffer became a leading resister to Hitler's euthanasia program, the killing of the infirm, elderly and others. He led resistance to Nazi persecution of Jews, Christians and academics.
During World War II, in 1943, Bonhoeffer was arrested and imprisoned.
Bonhoeffer was accused of assisting in the July 1944 plot to assassinate Hitler. He and members of the German military intelligence office were put on trial. He was found guilty and executed by hanging on April 9, 1945, just as the Nazi regime was being defeated.
The Bonhoeffer movie is titled Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Spy, Assassin. It was originally titled God's Spy before Angel Studios, an active distributor of Christian movies, obtained the rights. It was released in theaters on Nov. 22, 2024. It is described as "a profound and pretty untold story of heroism from World War II."
The movie has generated some controversy. Liberals accuse the film of being used by right-wing extremists, who they label as "Christian Nationalists."
An inside look at the film:
"We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself." ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Jim' Zig' Zeigler writes about Alabama's people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
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