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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Metaxas, how did Karl Bonhoeffer, Dietrich Bonhoeffer's father, meet Bonhoeffer's mother, the former Paula von Hase?

2. What does Metaxas identify as the difference between the theological debate in the U.S. in the 1930's and those in which Bonhoeffer participated as he was earning his doctorate degrees?

3. To what did Metaxas credit Bonhoeffer's intellectual independence and confidence in contradicting his theology professors?

4. From whom does Metaxas report that Bonhoeffer's mother, Clara von Hase, took piano lessons?.

5. Why does Metaxas claim Bonhoeffer became a soldier?

Short Essay Questions

1. What event during Bonhoeffer's trip to Rome does Metaxas suggest to have begun developing Bonhoeffer's understanding of the concept of "church"?

2. What does Metaxas identify as the Greek idea that Bonhoeffer considered to be "the most sever enemy" that Christianity ever had?

3. What does Metaxas report happened to the German mark beginning in 1923?

4. What does Metaxas suggest to be the motivation of Hitler's pro-Christian posturing as he was rising to power?

5. How does Metaxas claim that Karl Barth influenced Bonhoeffer's theological approach?

6. How did Bonhoeffer characterize religion in a lecture given while he was an assistant pastor in Barcelona, according to Metaxas?

7. What marked the friendship between Bonhoeffer and Franz Reinhold Hildebrandt according to Metaxas?

8. How does Metaxas paraphrase Martin Luther to explain that faith in the Gospel affects individual lives?

9. How does Metaxas claim that Bonhoeffer suggested Christians' treatment of Christ while he was in Barcelona?

10. What does Metaxas claim to have been the make-up of Bonhoeffer's confirmation class in Wedding?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Think of yourself as being in the role of a church leader in Nazi Germany in 1934. You are being pressured by the government to accept various intrusions into your church, such as making your youth department part of the Hitler Youth, and taking loyalty oaths to the Nazi Party. Write how you would plan to respond and what steps you would take to prepare your church for your decision, then write the message you would deliver to your congregation telling them of your decision and informing them of the first steps they will need to take so you can lead your church toward where you feel it needs to go.

Essay Topic 2

Upon arriving in America and beginning his studies here, Bonhoeffer made some very harsh criticisms of American theology students. Are Bonhoeffer's observations true to this day? If so, how are they demonstrated? If not, explain why he is mistaken and point out evidence from the time of Bonhoeffer's visit that makes his observations incorrect.

Essay Topic 3

As the Nazis began their agenda of persecution against Jews and various religious groups, conflicts arose in the church between who felt that the Nazis needed to be defied and others who felt they could be dealt with. Compare and contrast the two views and use information from the book that the sides used to support their position. Finally detail the consequences for choosing one of the two positions.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 965 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample