Most people know our namesake, Dietrich Bonhoeffer as the courageous martyr who opposed Adolf Hitler and his government’s antisemitic, racist Nazi tyranny. Many also remember reading Bonhoeffer’s The Cost of Discipleship or Life Together, popular texts for church and seminary reading groups. These initial associations are significant because they connect to Bonhoeffer’s essential contributions to the existential crises of his time–and ours.
While conscientious political resistance and martyrdom dominate Bonhoeffer’s public identity, the quieter, less visible part of his life and work is the most enduring. At his core, he was a theologically informed and faith-driven philosopher ethicist. In keeping with Bonhoeffer’s concept that evil is concrete and specific and can only be dealt with by responsible and particular actions, TDBI works to identify such actors and bolster them in every way we can.
TDBI has assembled a highly regarded cohort of Senior Fellows who embody our commitment to the work Bonhoeffer started. Criteria for membership include the nominee’s active engagement with religious, political, and social problems, intending to identify and define problems or resolve them. Our Fellows reflect Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s significant intellectual and academic pursuits and publishing achievements, and each prioritizes principled ethical actions and concrete solutions.
TDBI Senior Fellows are available for in-person and online speaking engagements, commissioned writing assignments, consultation, expert guest interviews, and as sources for investigative articles and research projects. Contact us at community@tdbi.org for more information.
