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Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Today’s Rise of Fascism

Dietrich Bonhoeffer watched the long, steady, stream of fascism roll across his country when Hitler came into power. Early on, Bonhoeffer recognized the danger of Hitler’s politics. During a radio broadcast, he warned the people of Germany against slipping into the idolatrous cult of Hitler.

In what must have been a devastating moment for Bonhoeffer,   the general synod of his denomination’s elected leaders, aligned with Nazi supporters. While the church was silent, twelve million people died. Six million were Jewish. The other six million were targeted because of their race, color of their skin, disabling conditions or the fact they were gay.

 Bonhoeffer wrote about his inability to convince people of the danger they were in. While I might use the word foolish, naive or indoctrinated, Bonhoeffer used the term “stupid” referring to those who idolized Hitler and were unable to see the evil he was doing.

He expresses his frustration with those who suspended truth and their Christian values while devoting themselves to Hitler, writing, *“Stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of the good than malice. One may protest against evil; it can be exposed and, if need be, prevented by use of force. Evil always carries within itself the germ of its own subversion in that it leaves behind in human beings at least a sense of unease. Against stupidity we are defenseless. Neither protests nor the use of force accomplish anything here; reasons fall on deaf ears; facts that contradict one’s prejudgment simply need not be believed . . . and when facts are irrefutable they are just pushed aside as inconsequential, as incidental . . . In conversation with (that person) . . . one virtually feels that one is dealing not at all with a person, but with slogans, catchwords and the like that have taken possession of (them). (He/she) is under a spell, blinded, misused, and abused in (their) very being . . . This state of affairs explains why in such circumstances our attempts to know what ‘the people’ really think are in vain.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison “After Ten Years”

Fascism is rising around the globe. We see it in our own country. One recognizes it by its calls to abandon Christian principles of compassion, love, justice and care for the poor.  We see it in callous disregard for the well being of immigrants. Politicians generate anger and resentment to win support, promising to rid the country of people who don’t look like them. They blame the outsider for the nation’s problems.  Fascism needs a scapegoat to thrive, always looking for the vulnerable and weak to target.  Lies are normalized. 

Bonhoeffer believed the only way a person could be freed from the idolatry of Hitler and to experience internal liberation, was to have a genuine fear of God.  A fear that would reset and reshape their values.  

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” Proverbs 9:10

“A work is praised for the skill of the artisan, so a people’s leader is proved wise by their words.” Sirach 9:17

* With thanks to the person who anonymously posted part of the Bonhoeffer quote, on the Minneapolis Star Tribune comment section, February 24, 2024. 

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19 thoughts on “Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Today’s Rise of Fascism”

  1. I use the word ‘stupid’ and I think it is the appropriate word. Those folk who follow the very wealthy because they think they have their best interests at heart or follow men or women who are serial liars are indeed ‘stupid’…lacking even what we might call ‘common sense’.

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  3. It seems we have a nation in denial. During years of working as an addictions counselor, I saw this kind of thing where people believed their own lies, so they really couldn’t even be accused of lying. The question is, how do we break through the spell before it’s too late.

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  8. Bonhoeffer was right, you can’t fix stupid. And fascism has been around for a long time. When the opinion of whoever is in power is the only one we’re allowed to have, when the mainstream media parrots all the same mantras, and questioning them can get one cancelled at best and jailed indefinitely at worst, when leaders use the actions of a madman as an excuse to disarm all the sane people, when so many people can be persuaded that killing the most vulnerable and weak is a right and millions have been murdered with impunity … Fascism isn’t coming, it’s here. And you’re right, the outsiders aren’t to blame, we’ve been decaying from within. Not just within our country, but within our own hearts. As Scripture says, the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, and the last thing people want to do is admit to being sinners in need of a Savior. But repentance is the only way to salvation. God help us.

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