The self-concept of the Church in borderline political situations. Reflections on the example of Protestant theology in Nazi Germany

Abstract

In my study, I formulate three questions, which I approach through two public speeches that are contemporary theological reflections at a time of historical crisis in Germany in the spring of 1933: How does the Church relate to current political events? From a theological point of view, how can the concept of a borderline political situation be defined? What does the critical function of the Church mean? I will first put the speeches of Bonhoeffer and Bultmann into context, and then present a summary overview of the structure of their thought processes. The analysis concludes that both authors interpret the present as a confessional situation, the theological starting point of which is the deification of the state. It is within this framework that they both respond to the Aryan paragraph (Arierparagraph) and speak out not only on behalf of baptized Jews, but on behalf of all their fellow German Jews, regardless of religious affiliation. The essay points out the essential difference between their analyses of the situation in light of the possibility for activism.