"Cost of Discipleship"

[abarnhar]

A local pastor told me that Bonhoffer's book "The Cost of Discipleship" was, "The most challenging read that I had in seminary."

Anyone else want to share their opinions of this book? It's the first on my shelf for reading this summer.

[Patroclus]

When I used to work in "Christian" retail, this book was a steady favorite. I have not read it yet, but I have heard rumor of its impact.

[Zakath]

I read it years back. For most Americans, it can be very thought provoking as well as unsettling. It encourages the reader to examine the reasons for their faith and then to go out and do something with that faith. It would probably come across as a bit "works oriented" for some of the more armchair Chrisitans.

[abarnhar]

As an atheist, what was your opinion of the book? Did it strike you as absurd the depth of the calling that certain individuals feel? Were you comfortable with message? Felt that it was applicable to other areas of life?

Thanks! :smile:

[Zakath]

Well, I wasn't an atheist when I read it and I have not re-read it since.

I recall that Bonhoffer's points were well made but a tad on the extreme side, even for his fellow Christians. I was comfortable with that message at the time as we (my wife and I) were investigating the whole discipleship/shepherding movement ala Mumford, Simpson, Basham, Prince, et.al.

Compared to what those fellows were preaching, Deitrich seemed pretty mild.