--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Bonhoeffer's thought is not determined by…" description: "\"“Bonhoeffer's thought is not determined by the ultimacy of this world but by his opposition to 'the separation ... (of) the two spheres of the sacred a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1d/anonymous-1_faith_bonhoeffer-s-thought-is-not-determined-b_1309399.jpg" --- # Bonhoeffer's thought is not determined by the ultimacy of… ![“Bonhoeffer's thought is not determined by the ultimacy of this world but by his opposition to 'the separation ... (of) the two spheres of the sacred and secular' and his insistence that 'faith is always ... an act involving the whole life” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1d/anonymous-1_faith_bonhoeffer-s-thought-is-not-determined-b_1309399.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1d/anonymous-1_faith_bonhoeffer-s-thought-is-not-determined-b_1309399.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1d/anonymous-1_faith_bonhoeffer-s-thought-is-not-determined-b_1309399.jpg) > ““Bonhoeffer's thought is not determined by the ultimacy of this world but by his opposition to 'the separation ... (of) the two spheres of the sacred and secular' and his insistence that 'faith is always ... an act involving the whole life”” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Bonhoeffer argues faith must integrate all life, rejecting a split between sacred and secular realms. **In simple terms:** Faith should involve the whole life, not just religion. Key Takeaway Live faith holistically. Themes faith integration worldview spirituality ethics Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - personal decision‑making - public policy - community service - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts Holism theology moral responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can one honor faith without alienating others? - What tensions arise when sacred values meet public life? A Different Perspective Applying this fully can clash with secular institutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bonhoeffer/) [Bonhoeffer Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bonhoeffer-thought-1138883/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Sacred Secular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacred-secular-1036608/) [Secular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secular/) [Secular Insistence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secular-insistence-4327238/) [Whole life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-life/) ## Related quotes > [Bonhoeffer thought of death as the last station on the road to freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/bonhoeffer-thought-of-death-as-the-last-station-on-the-road-to-freedom/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [Let every man abide in the calling wherein he is called and his work will be as sacred as the work of the ministry.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-every-man-abide-in-the-calling-wherein-he-is-called-and-his-work/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He did not need to be ordained, for the traditional religion of the Xhosas is characterized by a cosmic wholeness, so that there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/he-did-not-need-to-be-ordained-for-the-traditional-religion-of-the/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [“It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular, it is why he does it. The motive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-w-tozer/it-is-not-what-a-man-does-that-determines-whether-his-work-is-sacred/) [A.W. Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-w-tozer/) > [It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular, it is why he does it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-w-tozer/it-is-not-what-a-man-does-that-determines-whether-his-work-is-sacred-2/) [A.W. Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-w-tozer/) > [One of the features of a democracy is the disentanglement of the sacred from the secular because in religiously pluralistic countries, no one can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/one-of-the-features-of-a-democracy-is-the-disentanglement-of-the/) [Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/) > [“Bonhoeffer categorically refuses to demythologize the resurrection ... he finally walked to his execution, saying that for him it was the beginning of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bonhoeffer-categorically-refuses-to-demythologize-the-resurrection-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Meditation should not be a thing apart from life; it should be amidst life, it should be a part of life an organic part,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/meditation-should-not-be-a-thing-apart-from-life-it-should-be-amidst/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“Here is where Taylor locates the most significant shift in the post-’60s West: while ideals of tolerance have always been present in the modern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-a-smith/here-is-where-taylor-locates-the-most-significant-shift-in-the-post/) [James K.A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-a-smith/) > [“The common Christian practice compartmentalizing knowledge into sacred and secular is unbiblical and leads to the dangerous notion that secular knowledge is somehow less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-nash/the-common-christian-practice-compartmentalizing-knowledge-into/) [Ronald Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-nash/) > [Music is either sacred or secular. The sacred agrees with its dignity, and here has its greatest effect on life, an effect that remains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/music-is-either-sacred-or-secular-the-sacred-agrees-with-its-dignity/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“To divide life into areas of sacred and secular, letting our devotions take care of the former while becoming secular reformers during the week,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-r-van-til/to-divide-life-into-areas-of-sacred-and-secular-letting-our-devotions/) [Henry R. Van Til](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-r-van-til/) > [“The line between sacred and secular is man-made.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bessey/the-line-between-sacred-and-secular-is-man-made/) [Sarah Bessey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bessey/) > [“From the outset, Protestantism rejected the critical medieval distinction between the 'sacred' and 'secular' orders. While this position can easily be interpreted as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/from-the-outset-protestantism-rejected-the-critical-medieval/) [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) > [The evidence for our New Testament writings is ever so much greater than the evidence for many writings of classical authors, the authenticity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-evidence-for-our-new-testament-writings-is-ever-so-much-greater/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Bonhoeffer quotes > [“We are also brought into the church-community as a result of Christ’s death on the cross—a community of the forgiven, who should be quick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-nichols/we-are-also-brought-into-the-church-community-as-a-result-of-christ-s/) [Stephen J. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) > [“(Bonhoeffer's) change was not an ungainly, embarrassing leap from which he would have to retreat slightly when he gained more maturity and perspective. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/bonhoeffer-s-change-was-not-an-ungainly-embarrassing-leap-from-which/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in the first chapter of his wonderful book Life Together, has a discussion of how Christians never meet one-on-one; they always meet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/dietrich-bonhoeffer-in-the-first-chapter-of-his-wonderful-book-life/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“If you board the wrong train it is no use running along the corridor in the opposite direction. —DIETRICH BONHOEFFER”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/if-you-board-the-wrong-train-it-is-no-use-running-along-the-corridor/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [If your opponent has a conscience, then follow Gandhi and nonviolence. But if your enemy has no conscience like Hitler, then follow Bonhoeffer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/if-your-opponent-has-a-conscience-then-follow-gandhi-and-nonviolence/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“Bonhoeffer and Luther draw on Christ’s paradox of gaining one’s life by losing it. So we come to the ultimate paradox: by service—and ultimately,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-nichols/bonhoeffer-and-luther-draw-on-christ-s-paradox-of-gaining-one-s-life/) [Stephen J. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) > [I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer, before taking off his prison garb, kneeling on the floor praying fervently to his God. I was most deeply moved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/i-saw-pastor-bonhoeffer-before-taking-off-his-prison-garb-kneeling-on/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“Bonhoeffer categorically refuses to demythologize the resurrection ... he finally walked to his execution, saying that for him it was the beginning of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bonhoeffer-categorically-refuses-to-demythologize-the-resurrection-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The rich world of his ancestors set the standards for Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s own life. It gave him a certainty of judgment and manner that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/the-rich-world-of-his-ancestors-set-the-standards-for-dietrich/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“Jeremiah was not eager to become a prophet of God. When the call came to him all of a sudden, he shrank back, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxes/jeremiah-was-not-eager-to-become-a-prophet-of-god-when-the-call-came/) [Eric Metaxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxes/) > [. A god who let us prove his existence would be an idol. Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraha-lincon/a-god-who-let-us-prove-his-existence-would-be-an-idol-dietrich/) [Abraha Lincon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraha-lincon/) > [“Bonhoeffer's experiences with African American community underscored an idea that was developing in his mind: the only real piety and power that he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/bonhoeffer-s-experiences-with-african-american-community-underscored/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [ “His soul really shone in the dark desperation of our prison . . . \[Bonhoeffer\] had always been afraid that he would not be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/payne-best/his-soul-really-shone-in-the-dark-desperation-of-our-prison/) [Payne Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/payne-best/) > [“Grace is costly because it calls us through our person to the person of Jesus Christ. And when we follow the person of Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-root/grace-is-costly-because-it-calls-us-through-our-person-to-the-person/) [Andrew Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-root/) > [The family trees of Karl and Paula Bonhoeffer are everywhere so laden with figures of accomplishment that one might expect future generations to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/the-family-trees-of-karl-and-paula-bonhoeffer-are-everywhere-so-laden/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) [Browse all 54 Bonhoeffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bonhoeffer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Bonhoeffer's thought is not determined by the ultimacy of this world but by his opposition to 'the separation ... 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