Bonhoeffer Secularism essay plan
Line of argument: The Church and the state should be sepreate / we should adopt
secularism, a view supported by Freud and Dawkins, as it is much more relevant in todays
society compared to Bonhoeffers approach.
Support of my argument : Bonhoeffers Approach is irrelevant to today as he made is
approach in a society with a totalitarian, extremist regime.
Response : There is still injustice and genocide in the world today. Bonhoeffers belief in the
solidarity of Christians could help people around the world today.
Response : Only 46% of the population in the UK are Christian compared to 59% in 2018
census. This is decreasing every year. This can also be supported by the Long Peace after
WW2. There was a rise in secularism after ww2, demonstrating religion is not needed for
social order.
Support of my argument : Church and the state should be separate due to Freuds view of
the religion as wish fulfilment. Religion is a way of coping with the idea of death and is used
to control people. Freud argues people would be happier without religion.
Response : Surely the answer to bad religion is good religion which is what Bonhoeffer
aimed to achieve, in fact he actively went against bad religion.
Response: 37% of people in the UK say they have no religion. Bonhoeffers ideology is also
too difficult to follow as it asks too much of Christians through the use of costly grace and
the idea of sacrifice, as Jesus Christ did, and the fact that in order to achieve eternal life they
should give up their plutocratic and indulgent life on earth.
Line of argument: The Church and the state should be sepreate / we should adopt
secularism, a view supported by Freud and Dawkins, as it is much more relevant in todays
society compared to Bonhoeffers approach.
Support of my argument : Bonhoeffers Approach is irrelevant to today as he made is
approach in a society with a totalitarian, extremist regime.
Response : There is still injustice and genocide in the world today. Bonhoeffers belief in the
solidarity of Christians could help people around the world today.
Response : Only 46% of the population in the UK are Christian compared to 59% in 2018
census. This is decreasing every year. This can also be supported by the Long Peace after
WW2. There was a rise in secularism after ww2, demonstrating religion is not needed for
social order.
Support of my argument : Church and the state should be separate due to Freuds view of
the religion as wish fulfilment. Religion is a way of coping with the idea of death and is used
to control people. Freud argues people would be happier without religion.
Response : Surely the answer to bad religion is good religion which is what Bonhoeffer
aimed to achieve, in fact he actively went against bad religion.
Response: 37% of people in the UK say they have no religion. Bonhoeffers ideology is also
too difficult to follow as it asks too much of Christians through the use of costly grace and
the idea of sacrifice, as Jesus Christ did, and the fact that in order to achieve eternal life they
should give up their plutocratic and indulgent life on earth.
