Being human, becoming human: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and social thought [Book Review]

Promptly, within the introduction of this collection of essays published in the Princeton Theological Monograph Series, a provocative question is posed: "Does it not become apparent that human dignity requires a transcendent reference point?" The question is a central one, which serves as the conditioning question to explore the social and political thought of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Indeed, the proliferation of wonder and worry as the world wrestles to delimit answers to questions of life, meaning, and flourishing are in response to the panoply of scientific advancement and persisting global atrocities that either constrain or perhaps undermine current conceptions of the human being. Yet, the contributors of this compilation are somewhat hopeful that the "renewed openness to the voices of religious traditions within academic discussions regarding society and culture" will afford the opportunity for Bonhoeffer's humanistic orientation not only to bear fruit in relation to but also radically reconstruct a vision of responsibility toward the other - "affirm[ing] human dignity through a recovery of classical culture and ... in harmony with Christian faith".