My parents gave me a biography about Dietrich Bonhoeffer for Christmas and I haven’t been able to put it down.
The more I turn pages, the more I realize this guy was one of the leading lights and greatest heroes of the twentieth century, a man who stood up to Hitler. He was a theologian whose unshakable faith and moral courage led him to boldly confront the monstrous evil that was Nazism. The book reads like a narrative, ostensibly a philosophical commentary on a man so steadfast in his faith, nothing could make him flinch — something I personally find remarkable. In contrast to what he calls “cheap grace,” Bonhoeffer lived and died believing true grace influences all aspects of a Christian’s life and requires a willingness to sacrifice everything to God. Ethics were not reduced to a set of rules to him.
Beyond Bonhoeffer’s personal story, the biography sheds light on some of the circumstances and personalities that led Germany from the defeat of WWI to the atrocities of WWII, which has kindled sort of a new fascination for a kid who’s never received good grades in history classes. It’s like learning about it again for the first time, only far less vexing, as was my experience of twentieth century history in high school.
And so it seems whenever I’m not working on music, I’m reading, or flying in airplanes, or both. The better the book, the shorter the flight.
It’s called “Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy”
THIS IS COMPLETELY AMAZING!!!
I admire him so much.
Greetings from Colombia (:
It seems that I get smarter every time I read your blog.
Sounds wonderful, definitely gotta read this one. Thanks, Adam :)
Hey adam you should post another cover of a worship song!
I think this post is telling me I need to read this book! Not only has Bonhoeffer come up on a weekly basis for the last couple of months but my Bible study leader was talking about this book just last night! It’s kinda neat how God brings things to people’s attention. :)
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!
Monday has been a success.
Definitely putting it on my reading list. Thanks Adam!
Hey if you like Owl City check out Summertime’s End! They’re a really similar band and you’ll definitely like their music!
http://youtube.com/summertimesend
What a coincidence I just finished hearing a lecture on the Holocaust at school today! It’s truly inspiring to see ordinary people do extraordinary things for others in times of crisis. I can only hope to have one ounce as much courage as those people did.
Awesomeness. :D <3 you Adam!!!
Cool!
I read a series called the Zion Covenant by Bodie Thoene which followed a Jewish violinist during WWII as she helped people escape Germany while travelling with her orchestra. It was the only full series I’ve ever read – about 9 books – and it really brought the second world war to life for me. I learnt a lot about history and geography and have been enamoured by what happened then ever since.
If you find yourself on a very long flight (back to New Zealand? ;) ), I recommend that series
:)
The great standard bearers and martyrs of the faith can still impart lessons even now. Like @i. I’ll have to add this to my reading list.
Adam! Bonhoeffer is an excellent book. My parents will not stop talking about him and the biography. :) I’m glad you like it, too.
And it is astounding how strong his faith truly was. And amazing how he sacrificed everything to stop the Nazis.
On another note, Bonhoeffer just happens to be Lutheran…and so am I. :D
I hope to meet you soon.
Siblings in Christ,
Annie
And yes, I was not a real history fan in HS either, but there are so many good resources out there now that can allow you to learn and re-learn history in a way that makes it seem fresh and exciting. Have fun!
I’m a big history fan, WWII in particular. Glad you liked the book on Bonhoeffer. His fellow pastor, Martin Niemoller, stood alongside him in the Confessing Church and survived the war.
Unfortunately, the school system often teaches in a way that dampens the spirit of learning in students. Glad you were able to rekindle it! :)
The problem with history in school is that they expect you to want to investigate and analyze history like a true historian. I myself am completely fascinated by history and I love to read and learn about it but I found history at school unbearable.
It great to learn in a way that you have a passion for :)
So true! I read three books at work today and it was a nice, short day. :)
Mmmhh, I like to read biography well-known people and novel.. I think I should read this one .. Or any other biography book that you suggest to read?
We’re reading Night by Elie Weisel in my English literature class. It takes you into the mind of Elie himself as he was taken out of his Jewish community and in to a concentration camp. Elie was very blessed to have survived. The Holocost, although hard to read about without crying, is quite interesting. It would be nice to read of a man brave enough to try stopping that madness. Another book on my reading list for sure. Thank you. For everything.
What a coincidence! We’re in our WWII unit right now in social studies! I’m kinda a nerd so I enjoy books and occasionally history. Anyways, I hope you enjoy your book, it sounds interesting! Maybe I’ll look into it myself. Ever since your Eragon blog post, I’ve learned that you read the most epic books ever. In a matter of fact, I’m completely absorbed in Eragon right now. Happy Reading! :D
WWII… funnily enough, we’re reading a book in class that has something to do with it.
But anyhow, this sounds like a pretty good book; I’ll definitely have to see if I can get it sometime, because I’m betting it will be much more interesting than learning about it the school way. Thanks for blogging about this! :D
I love reading your posts Adam. I might just pick this book up the next time I go to Barnes and Nobles. Thank you for brightening my Monday (strange how a guy writing about a book he likes can make my day a million times better, but you’re just that awesome Adam). Good luck with that new music you’re working on, I hope you keep enjoying that book and most of all that God blesses you in everything you do.
Lots of Owl love, Lia
I remember listening to a radio drama about Dietrich Bonhoeffer when I was about four. I was too young to truly understand the depth of what he did but I understood that he believed in God and that that was heroic. I was moved by it, so much so that to this day when I hear his name a vague feeling of sad admiration washes over me.
Adam, why don’t you ever write about your Catholic faith in particular? I think it’s great that you don’t want to alienate all of your other Christian fans, but would it really hurt to say something genuinely Catholic every once in a while?
Amazing! I just finished a book about World War I. It’s kinda heartbreaking. I wish the generation of twenty-first century won’t forget the price paid by the twentieth century heroes to obtain our precious freedom. And may we not forget the ultimate FREEDOM we have because of the ULTIMATE sacrifice made by One, twenty centuries ago.
He has set us free!
God bless Adam!
Adam is Catholic? I thought he was a born again Christian?
That book sounds amazing! I also really want to read The Cost of Discipleship.
I would love to give you a hug and a thank-you letter. Pretty much anytime I listen to your songs or read your blog I want to write you a thank-you. :)
Werecat, I don’t pretend to have any privileged insight into Adam’s spiritual life, but I find it highly unlikely that a man who attends a Reformed church (John Piper’s Bethlehem Church in Minneapolis) could by any stretch of the imagination be Catholic, without exercising extreme cognitive dissonance.
It’s neat that you noted that Catholicism isn’t Christianity, though. I encourage you to check out the main differences between the two different belief systems. Here’s a pretty non-aggressive link (just the facts):
http://www.gotquestions.org/Catholic-questions.html
Sounds like a good read! There is this book I really want to read that is about what life would be like if we lost the revolutionary war. I just need to find it…
Was this written in the future? Its still 7:04 on January 9th where I am. The biography seems very interesting. You are the best! Bye!
I read that book, and had the exact same experience. Incredible man, incredible light. Thanks for your thoughts on it!
I’m once again,thrilled at your blog posts. I’ve never seen a celebrity who’s not considered on the christian circuit be so deep rooted in his faith.
God Bless you Adam Young<3
My brother got my dad that book for Christmas! He’s very excited to read it. I’m going to let him know how much you’re enjoying it.
Have a great time with the rest of the book! God bless,
- Joel
Most people forget the people we learn about in history class were real. And history is about their lives and the impact they made on humanity. And most of it still has it’s affect on daily life today.
Everything has a beginning, everything has an ending, and everyone has a story.
This book is amazing! The author of it came and spoke at my unversity and I can say a history/literature class on bonhoffer by Mr. Metraxes would be amazing. Hmm I am thrilled you’re reading it! :D
It does make you feel quite differently about things today doesn’t it?
I saw a Netflix movie on Deitrich Bonhoeffer’s life story and my reaction was similar to yours. This truly was a great man who was willing to lay down his life for his beliefs ! At first, he had gone to America to escape escalating violence against anyone who was outspoken against the atrocities committed by Hitler and the Nazis, but then he realized his place was to suffer with his people!.
The last sentence of your blog and also is the best conclusion for teaching us and letting us understand how it worked if we love reading and savouring the novel. I have heard a lot of news about him, but I have never bought his biography as my personal experience. I like the way you learn and look at the developing process of our world, and it is very cozy when I every week for readying your blog, and I must admit that I learned a lot of experience from you and your blog a well. Books are our best friends and partners when we want to get some silent hours and space, and it leads us to a great atmosphere when we savour it. We also will be improving a lot of knowledge after we finished reading a novel or even some short articles. Great books are connecting and benefiting our daily life. I do believe that the reason why the lyrics of your music are so beautiful and mysterious is because you put all your feeling and the true story happened to you or was caught by you in it. Reading biography can always keep us for having a pure and nature thought of our world, History is easy to lose and forget if we don’t ready the novel or biography. One more thing about my thought of you is you are a hard working guy, and it is great to have this spirit in making music or living life. You will never loss your power or poison on the electronic music, because you are the guy who put all the heart in the music. Greatly thanks for sharing those a great blog to us.
One of my favourite books… and it keeps cropping up everywhere! Isn’t it brilliant? I love that it’s so long without ever being dull.
Have you read about the multiple plots and failed attempts to assassinate Hitler that he was in?
Whoa! Cool i want to read this! :) haha it says this post is from tomorrow hehe! :) you are cool!
awesome might as well read this too :)
Heyya!
I’ve never heard of Bonhoeffer. Obviously I’ve been missing out, I’ll have to look for this book next time I’m at Chapters. (I’m at Chapters a lot ;D)
I’m in grade ten and just finished learning about WW1 and WW11, and found these units to be some of my favourite since I’ve started high school. I think that, despite how terrible these wars were, that they’re absolutely fascinating, and I don’t think the desire to learn more will ever fade away. So thanks for the recomendation. ;D
I got your tweet just as I was working on a letter to send you in the mail. You’re excellent, so I decided to turn on some Beastie Boys, switch on my laptop and write you a billion words elaborating on the fact!!!! I hope once I send it, it reaches you. I’ll never give up trying of course!
Anywaaysssss, bear hugs and a whole lotta love!!!!
-Lorelei AKA GalaxyGirl <3
i had this in history ^^ you suprise me eveytime with your blogs. you’re a wonderful person and i admire you in all your beauty and precious xoxo <3
From what I have gleaned from Adam’s writing and music, I don’t think he is a Roman Catholic. He is a born-again Christian and has mentioned John Piper’s church in Minneapolis. However, given the distance from Owatonna to Minneapolis, I would imagine that he might attend a local church with his family while he is at home.
I commend my little brother in Christ for not hiding his light under a basket. :)
Is it not amazing to see how God works? Often it is so plain to the reflective eye, when men and women stand up for right, as in Bonhoeffer’s case. And other times, even in hindsight, we can only glimpse the faint outline of God’s hand moving the pieces. Continue to read history. You will see more and more the way God uses imperfect people for His perfect plan. And it is encouraging.
These posts make waiting for calculus less boring.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote several great books on theology. Like C.S. Lewis, I wish there were more people like him still around.
WWII was a fascinating and terrifying time in history. Well worth looking into, especially understanding how civilized people can become so monstrous.
Thanks for being so open Adam. I love your blogs :)
Hey Adam :)
I’m so exited that you are making a new album. Hope things are going well “down there” for you (I read your latest blogpost).
I like to think that you are sitting in your basement in Owatonna, Minnesota right now as I’m writing this, composing wonderful and strange songs with wicked lyrics just because you can. I can’t wait to hear them.
Hope you’re having a blast.
ps. I found this small piece of music on youtube the other day. It’s a soundtrack to a WW2 movie from 2003. Listen to it and be surprised. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx2b5B8jLVM
Hmmm…in my history class, we’re learning about WWI. This time last year, though, History and English were both focusing on WWII. I read Night, too. Very different, actually, from what you’ve been reading. You see, Elie Wiesel is a Jew but during the war, he lost faith in his god. But this man you’re reading about, he stood up because of his faith. Which tells me anyone can preservere no matter what the reason. Elie was broken, but went on out of sheer instinct, and loyalty to his father. Very touching.
YESSSS!!! Bonhoeffer > Chuck Norris. Theologian badass. Just my personal opinion but seriously, the man achieved so much greatness at a young age. I read Life Together over Christmas and plan on starting his biography when I can find time.
Hmm, if you liked the book, Adam, I probably would too. I’ll have to Google it. Sounds really interesting, though!
I’m not sure who he was but I’m sure he was a great man. I was learning about world war two just last week, and the way my teacher showed us, showed both sides of the war. I think history is amazing and how we learn of the past. If I find the book, I’ll make sure to read what it’s about. Thank you for your blog entry as always you amaze me :) Love you and hope you find more amazing books to read while riding on the airplane. :)
So gonna buy that book.
Umm im pretty sure adam is not catholic i think he is a christian. :) but anywho if he is that is news to me!
I work in a library and came across this book today!! Haha, you have crazy timing my dear :)
He is an amazing man as are you!
Never doubt God’s blessings over your life!
<3
Dear Adam,
Sounds like a great book, I’ll definitely check it out! So glad you’re still letting your light shine and allowing it to grow. I’m currently reading Suprised By Joy by C.S. Lewis. So far, it’s inspiring and fairly easy to read. God bless as always, and you are in my prayers
Love,
Madeline
I haven’t been reading much lately. I haven’t been doing much of anything lately! Except sleeping. I’ve been doing plenty of that.
..So that’s where all my time has gone!
Sounds like this is what I’ll be reading when I start reading again.
Hugs!
Madd
I love Dietrich Bonhoeffer! He was an incredible man. My favorite quote by him:
“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”
That pretty much changed my life when I heard it about a year ago.
Yeah, one of the giants of our faith! Incredible story and amazing testimony. If all Christians lived out their faith in such a way, Jesus would truly be glorified. Thanks for sharing. :]
Contrary to popular belief, most people did not know about the Jewish genocide. It was kept secret. So this guy was protesting the war, not ethnic cleansing. WWII was not a bunch of good guys fighting to free the Jews from the Germans. They were just blowing them up so that the Germans and their allies wouldn’t blow us up.
For someone who has half the makings of a history buff and likes books about extreme Christian faith, that would be an awesome book. I like that kind of stuff. I might read it.
A really good book I’m reading is “Kisses from Katie”. It’s about a nineteen-year-old girl that moved from Tennessee to Uganda to follow God’s will, adopting thirteen daughters and changing/saving loads of lives throgh her ministry called Amazima. The following like leads to her blog:
http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/
~Sky
Oooh! Sounds like an amazing book! I’ll try to squeeze it into my reading list. I love reading about wars, particularly World War II. I don’t know why though. But I never would’ve thought that a man would actually do those amazing things like that! I mean, everyone was terrified of Hitler (I don’t like saying/typing the name but I have to) and it seemed impossible that anyone could do anything like Bonhoeffer. This post was really interesting and influential! Now, I must ask my dad if I can use his credit card to get the book off of Amazon or something…. I MUST READ THE BOOK.
I just started reading that too! My parents and brother all read it and loved it, so I thought I’d give it a try…glad I did!
I loved the part “Ethics were not reduced to a set of rules to him.”
Okay, I am looking this up. I had briefly heard of him before, but then he was mentioned in youth group last night, and now here…
I don’t believe in coincidences. *scribbles down book title*
Wow, sounds like he was a very great man. I’m definitely going to have to remember to check out that book. “The Hiding Place” by Corrie ten Boom is another good one about WWII. Thanks for another interesting blog entry, Adam! :D
i needed this so badly. i just accidentally broke a girl’s foot in a soccer game and needed a little encouragement about something bigger than me. and i think i tell you this every time, but you’re my hero.
okay, good night.
Bonhoeffer huh? Sounds like a respectable German.
I currently study History in college, and maybe you could replace my History teacher for a while after you’ve finished reading the cherished book on (probably) the only German that stood up to Hitler.
Thanks Adam. You’d be a great teacher. I knew you’d agree to my proposal.
Tom
“The better the book, the shorter the flight.” <– So true :))
If you want more Bonhoeffer, I highly recommend The Cost Of Discipleship.
I love this Bonhoeffer quote:
“Music… will help dissolve your perplexities and purify your character and sensibilities, and in time of care and sorrow, will keep a fountain of joy alive in you.”
Wow. Being a huge fan of history, especially WWII, I find this incredibly interesting. I’ve gotta get me one of them copies of that there book.
I’m currently reading Corrie ten Boom’s The Hiding Place (which I got for Christmas) so that makes this entry kind of coincidental. I’m really glad to hear about someone else who was so courageous during that horrific time. Thank the Lord for people like that.
Your sister in Christ, Samantha
READ THIS PLEASE.
That was a psychological trick. Now I have your attention. Though you may find my opinion interesting…
“Monstrous evil that was the Nazi”? It wasn’t just the Nazi behind world war two, Adam. There were other countries backing Hitler’s claims…otherwise we would only have had The War to End All Wars. Not to mention, I’m sure the soldiers themselves that we consider “Nazi” were just brainwashed by propaganda and nationalism…isn’t that why we support our troops? They didn’t know what was being done to the Jews. They only saw a chance for vengeance of their humiliating defeat in the Great War. Only the SS, Hitler, and a few trusted officials knew…yes, Hitler was bad. But he didn’t start out that way. He wanted to be a priest, you know. When he was young. Then he went off to war, and became a fervent nationalist. Terrible atrocities have been committed in the name of one’s country, one’s god, one’s beliefs. Hitler’s remain at the top, and hopefully will always. Just remember, before you go around saying certain people are evil, think. Hitler was corrupt. So were his advisers. But the Nazis? They were all people like you and me, raised in a certain belief system, political, religious, or social.
Oh yeah, and History is one of my best subjects.
I’m so encouraged to see you alive in your faith, and that publicly. I love your music and was so excited when I found out you are a Christian. I don’t think I’ll ever get the chance to meet you but it would be cool to chat in heaven some time. May your trust in God never waver for He is totally faithful.
Your blog always makes me smile :)
I love your blog :)
Hey! Check out my blog at http://saaraajuddha.blogspot.com/ Thanks! It’s very much inspired by yours Adam!
@Jess
Good comments.
Hitler was a devout Christian. He felt it was his duty from God to eradicate the Jews. It was his calling from a personal deity. Despite what most people in the Christian faith believe, Hitler is their baggage. Representative of how the most extreme of their kind can and will behave when they believe God is on their side. It’s one of many reasons I don’t give in to the hype.
Also, Catholicism IS Christianity. It is simply one type of Christianity, where the main requirement is a belief that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah and that he came to save mankind from its “sins”. That’s the only dictionary requirement one needs. Based on this definition, despite Hitler’s actions during WWII, he was most definitely a Christian man.
Hitler wasn’t evil, HE WAS JUST NUUUUTS!
@Cody
Thank you. I thought this blog was very one-sided, and rather closed-minded.
oooh yeah! I’m super excited you got that! I just got done reading it, he was an amazing man!
Not gonna lie, this article has single-handedly answered all my problems :’) at school, we’ve been studying, “The Problem of Evil and Suffering” in RE, and how that is evidence for God not existing. We’ve been studying the Holocaust, and how God didn’t step in to help the Jews in Nazi Germany. Not only does this article prove that there were people called by God to make a difference in that time, it also helps with my other issue – all my friends having a go at me saying Christianity isn’t a religion. That’s exactly what Bonhoeffer said! Nice one Adam, you’ve done it again!
Hey, my dad has that book(and I plan to read it). He was a man of great faith. Bonhoeffer was a hero. War is a terrible thing. It can change person…
Thanks for the book suggestion. Just bought it for my kindle and will start reading it real soon. I’ve studied his theology in college but never knew anything about his life. Looking forward to reading it. Thanks Adam.
CDS
Dude I’m beginning to think you’re my long lost twin…or maybe clone. Bonhoeffer is one of my heroes.
OH MY GOSH. I GOT 36% IN MY HISTORY EXAM LAST YEAR. SHUT UP! I CANT STAND IT! jkjkjjkjkjkjkj i love you really.
I started that book once, but life got in the way and I wasn’t able to finish it :’( It’s on the list for this year though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve been mildly obsessed with Bonhoeffer since I visited Germany in January 2008 for a college class called “The Lutheran Heritage.” A remarkable man, who, with his discussions of “Cheap Grace” and “Costly Grace” resurrected this viewpoints of other amazing theologians, like Søren Kierkegaard in Denmark and Martin Luther himself. Another interesting read is anything by Paul Tillich. He was the first non-Jewish faculty member forced to leave his post at a college in Germany by the Nazi, and he became a brilliant theologian in America.
Enjoyed your concert here in Anchorage tonight.
Adam
@Jess
That argument that few Germans in the German military knew what was happening to the Jews? That has been used by a lot of people historically to disassociate themselves from the atrocities of World War II. While many of the people who did not join the military were unaware of the “Final Solution to the Jewish problem,” soldiers were often a direct tool. Read Christopher Browning’s book “Ordinary Men.”
Also, Hitler trained to be an artist prior to World War I. And I disagree with the claims that Hitler understood his ideas and plans to be any sort of call from God.
So I checked on Netflix to make sure they were still on instant watch since the last time I looked, and you can still watch the Bonhoeffer documentary and “Hanged on a Twisted Cross” on there, if you’re interested.
I will certainly check it out!
The lead singer of the band Anberlin, Stephen Christian, had a journal of his Great Grandfather of his journey to get his family to safely during World War 2. It doesn’t go into the Holocaust but it tells his story of the hardship of war being in the middle of the battle zone between the Germans, Polish, and Russians. The story all together is incredible and it’s free. it’s a must read!
http://youaresafehere.tumblr.com/
@Nancy: Ok now that is really neat!
I’m going to read that journal once I finish the Bonhoeffer biography. lol Thanks Adam for reminding me to buy it. I meant to get it when it came out but I was broke.
@Adam Bryant
And how do you know that it was just an excuse? Maybe they really were just nationalists. I will read Ordinary Men, because it seems to be backing what I am saying. They were people. In all wars, innocent people are killed. In this was, yes, terrible atrocities against innocent people. But the Nazis, the actual soldiers, they were just like any other soldier in any war across time: doing what their leader dictates. Is the sword evil, or the slayer? Is the hammer great, or the blacksmith?
I am not saying that Hitler did these things because of his religious beliefs. He may have, or may not. There are some particularly…violent…Christian sects. He did commit these crimes in the name of Germany, however. I was using “in the name of one’s god” as a reference to the Crusades, which are remarkably like the Holocaust. “The eight-year-old Hitler took singing lessons, sang in the church choir, and even entertained thoughts of becoming a priest.” Yes, he did want to be a priest. He also wanted to be an architect. I think you also might want to note it was Martin Luther’s antisemitic writings that really inspired his original antisemitism.
I thought you’d be amused to know that while reading and listening to my iPod this afternoon at lunch, there’s a sentence on page 460 that ends with “just the tip of the iceberg.” Right as I read that, that line in your song of the same name played, in sync, with the words as they sounded in my head. The timing was flawless. lol
I love moments like that.