Dietrich Bonhoeffer Family and Scholars Accuse Eric Metaxas, Angel Studios of Legacy ‘Abuse’

Dietrich Bonhoeffer
L: AldrianMimi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. R: Socrates in the City, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Ahead of next month’s release of the movie “Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Spy, Assassin,” 86 of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s descendants are urging people not to “distort and misuse” the theologian’s life or work. In an Oct. 18 statement, dozens of Bonhoeffer’s relatives wrote, “We are horrified to see how the legacy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer is increasingly being distorted and misused by right-wing extremists, xenophobes, and religious agitators.”

They described the German theologian as “a peace-loving, freedom-loving humanitarian” who “never would…have seen himself associated with far-right, violent movements such as Christian Nationalists and others who are trying to appropriate him today.”

Bonhoeffer, who opposed the Nazis during World War II, was hanged in April 1945 at age 39. His influential books include “The Cost of Discipleship” and “Life Together.”

Relatives of Dietrich Bonhoeffer Call Out Eric Metaxas, Angel Studios

In their statement, Bonhoeffer descendants pinpoint conservative author Eric Metaxas as “a key figure in this abuse.” Metaxas, who wrote an award-winning biography of Bonhoeffer, is a vocal supporter of conservative politics and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

According to the relatives, Metaxas “ignored the historical context and misrepresented Bonhoeffer as a fundamentalist Evangelical” in the biography. They also decry his previous comparison of President Joe Biden to Adolf Hitler, plus social media posts that reference Bonhoeffer while showing a gun on a Bible.

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Next, the extended family took aim at the upcoming “history-distorting biopic” of Bonhoeffer. They say the theologian wasn’t a “lone fighter” but worked with other relatives for truth and freedom and against “religious zealotry, nationalism, militarism, and blind obedience.” The family continued, “Those who invoke Dietrich Bonhoeffer to justify anti-democratic, xenophobic aspirations are either misinformed or malicious.”

Bonhoeffer’s relatives also claim his quotes are taken out of context, “used by many whose intentions are diametrically opposed to Bonhoeffer’s thoughts and actions.” They cite the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 for a second Trump presidency as an example, urging voters, “Do not be deceived. Look carefully at history.”

Scholars Warn Against ‘Weaponization’ of Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Bonhoeffer’s descendants also thank theologians and historians who are speaking out “against this appropriation.” On Oct. 10, scholars began a Change.org petition asking people to “Stop Misusing Dietrich Bonhoeffer to Support Political Violence and Christian Nationalism.”

As of Oct. 21, the petition has more than 1,400 signatures. It begins:

From Project 2025 to violent political rhetoric, the legacy of German pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer is being invoked this election season on behalf of Christian Nationalism. It is a dangerous and grievous misuse of his theology and life. As an international group of Bonhoeffer scholars, we warn against it.

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Stephanie Martin
Stephanie Martin, a freelance writer and editor in Denver, has spent her entire 30-year journalism career in Christian publishing. She loves the Word and words, is a binge reader and grammar nut, and is fanatic (as her family can attest) about Jeopardy! and pro football.

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