Was Dietrich Bonhoeffer gay? A new biography raises questions

And this matters how? Homosexual behavior is still sinful whether he struggled with it or not.

When a man who belongs to a group of people who, at a rate of 50%, legally tear apart their families so that they can go and start a completely new one with a completely new heterosexual, makes public statements about sin and morality, he should know that to others, he will appear to be a bigoted, hypocritical doofus.

You’re welcome, Frank. Bless your heart.

While exploring the connections between Bonhoeffer and Bethge might be sensational enough to grab headlines, to try to affix a “gay” label on him posthumously seems unfair and irresponsible. And frankly, unnecessary. The LGBT community is very outspoken about not letting others apply labels to anyone. So was Dietrich Bonhoeffer gay? Based on the fact that he didn’t openly embrace that label, don’t we have to say “No”? Further, the term “gay” is ambiguous. Does it mean “attracted to those of the same sex whether one pursues it or not” or does it mean “desiring/pursuing a relationship with someone of the same sex”? They are two very different positions that both, somehow, elicit the “gay” label. This whole topic, in regards to Bonhoeffer, seems to unfairly shift the focus away from Bonhoeffer’s much-deserved legacy. Whether he was or wasn’t in love with Bethge, a woman, or both.

Brilliant comments. Thank you.

Only Frank Schaeffer takes Frank Shaeffer seriously.

Disclaimer. ..I haven’t read this book and so I could be way off base. But I have to give it to the author, the best time to write a biography is 69 years after the person is dead and 15 years after the only other person that could verify the book is also dead. needless to say I’m a skeptic.

It makes no difference to me if Bonhoffer was gay or not. It also makes no difference to me if he was sexually active or not. But really? is it ethically responsible to speculate about this when there really seems to be no evidence? It raises a few questions however.

1. Doesn’t being gay mean having a physical and sexual desire for the same sex? is there any evidence of that at all?

2. Am I the only one who believes that heterosexuals can have an extremely deep and loving friendship with the same sex to the point where it doesn’t compare to any other, but yet never seeks to find any expression physically or sexually because that desire is simply not there.

Anyway… I love Bonhoffer so I may get the book… And maybe I will be pleasantly surprised.

Kudos to Tyler. I especially appreciate his closing line: “Whether he was or wasn’t in love with Bethge, a woman, or both.”

Is it possible to be attracted (sexually and/or otherwise) to more than one person? Absolutely. Almost everyone is. Heterosexual men are attracted to many a woman superficially and sometimes more deeply. The same men can demonstrate behaviors of attraction in relation to a close male friend with or without conscious sexual and/or romantic thoughts. Are such men “gay” or bisexual? In most cases, no.

Attraction isn’t the end all. How we choose to focus our thoughts and feelings and actions is what counts. 32 years ago I got engaged and a few months later got married to then Miss Renee Shawn Hord. I’ve been 100% faithful to her, and she to me. Then again, Renee and I would be lying through our teeth if we said we’ve never been attracted to another woman or man.

Again, attraction isn’t the end all. For the record, I’m attracted to beautiful women. I’m very happily married to one. I’m not attracted to handsome men. Those last three lines don’t make me any better or worse than the next guy. It’s simply (1) how I’m wired and (2) how I have chosen to be wired.

Wow. Gaystopo? “Proof” for someone being gay? Sexuality stained with absolutism.
Thanks, Tyler for a bit of sanity. However, if someone has not come out, the answer would not be “no,” but “we don’t know and it’s not relevant.” He loved his friend. Good for him. Don’t drag him into our sex-obsessed culture.

Anyone who has ever served in combat, or under enormous physical or psychological stress over a long period of time, will bond with those with whom the experience(s) is directly shared. So, Larry, you make a good point in #2 above. My oldest and best friend and I flew together in the service and would, without ever stating it, have risked, or even given our lives for each other, and we both share love on that level. Yet I am saying nothing more about that relationship than the words that appear here in their simplest and most direct meaning. Period, end of story.

Whether Bonhoeffer was gay or not, it’s pretty clear he never acted directly upon those feelings beyond what his culture at that time considered correct. But, I ask, who cares??? His value to us as Christians is to reiterate the committment even unto death at the hands of the unjust that may be required of Christ’s desciples. He shows us the truth of the old adage that ‘we owe God a life.’ Anything else is muddying the waters.

You comment is gibberish.

True. Loving someone is not a sin. Being physically intimate, romantic and trying to make something a marriage is the sinful part.

The media is inflamed with all things gay. Raising a question about the orientation of a Christian leader who lived in the early portion of the last century is very low-taste on the part of a media outlet that, I would think, places a high amount of value on itself and takes itself seriously.

your comments hold water only if you believe being gay is something negative tending to detract from his character and his reputation generally. Otherwise, no. The overall tone of this thread demonstrates how deeply and subtly entrenched homophobia is among many religious people. Even the postings of some of the less antagonistic people here reveal it.

The matter of his being gay is interesting because so many people in public life and elsewhere who trumpet their “christianity” are so nasty to gay people–to the point of violence or approving violence. That Bonhoeffer, whose witness to the Cross was one of the most Christ-like testimonies imaginable, may turn out to have been gay kicks homophobia in its teeth. And ought to. In no way should – or would – his being gay be as problematic as it is in this discussion if so many so-called christians weren’t consumed with hatred of gay people. That’s why raising the issue is important – especially in a venue like this.

The flip-side of it is all that so many very public, very visible so-called evangelists and other conservative so-called Christians in public life are so often caught with their pants down with a person of the same sex – that person often turning out to be a rental.

Whatever can be done to expose this flaming hypocrisy is fair game. I’m sick unto death of so-called christians who have so much to say about this issue while ignoring the science that totally debunks their attitudes toward homosexuality.

sounds like you suffer from the delusion that being gay makes it impossible to live a holy life. you’ve got a lot to learn, bro.

How dare you?
Fascism. That is all you are about.

What is the point of this new biography?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer is a shining example of a Christian. A man who loved Christ and was willing to give His life for the Lord. I find him inspiring. I believe the point of this biography is to SELL. Everything “gay” sells. I believe there is an agenda here. The Metaxas book is very good. I would recommend it.

So unless a book advances your belief, it has no value?

As many point out, being a Christian and being gay are only mutually exclusive to a certain subset of the faith. One which is pretty vocal in their bigotry and short sighted arguments as of late.

Of course the agenda here may be shedding light on something which although may be true, makes people like yourself uncomfortable. Fundamentalist Christians are not know for being receptive to views or facts which go against their predigested dogma.

Very well said. Your logic perfectly sums up the matter.

This falls into the same category of those who claimed Sam and Frodo in LOTR were gay because of their close friendship and loyalty. It appears the author is just trying go gain attention when no one involved can speak out.

I’d say you don’t know much about marriage except what you can regurgitate from a catechism or extrapolate from the bible – which is, by no means, a consistent, reliable source to use to buttress your narrow conceptions of what a marriage is.

But in my experience, I’ve consistently found that the less learned someone is the more sure he is in his opinions.

Well, have at it. As Napoleon said, never interrupt your adversary when he’s making a fool of himself.

I have studied the issue quite extensively and homosexual behavior is still sinful and marriage is till man plus woman.

I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your sites really nice, keep it up!
I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back later on. Cheers

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Great points.

Thank you for your well thought out and well presented position here. I agree with your statements and am just repulsed by those who insist on throwing sex into every topic, at every turn. Who cares what people do under the covers! This man is now and will always be a hero of mine. Nobody can truly ruin the truth of what this man did, how he lived his life and the bravery he showed the world as he fought one of the greatest evils this world has ever known. What have THEY done to make the world a better place? Consider this: The gestapo knew everything about everyone. They hated homosexuality…… along with other things. If they knew Bonhoeffer was gay, don’t you think they would have killed him on the spot?

LOL…Thank you for that comment. It helped! I admire Mr. Bonhoeffer very much, as a Christian man who gave his life for what he believed in.

This assumption about Bonhoeffer’s sexuality is pure speculation. I suspect the author is capitalizing on the high profile that homosesxual issues have in current society. One could write something suspecting gay interests about nearly any famous person, and with the right ghost writer and agent turn it into a popular, if not “best” seller. On the other hand, the excellent novel based on Bonhoeffer’s life, Saints and Villains by Denise Giardina, boldly suggests that Bonhoeffer had a female friend with whom he was intimate in the 1930’s. Try that for another view of Bonhoeffer’s sexuality and see which one you are satisfied with.