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How is God revealed through the life of a human community? Dietrich Bonhoeffer´s theological ethics begins from the claim to ´Christ existing as community´, one of several variations on G.W.F. Hegel´s philosophy of religion. David Robinson argues that Bonhoeffer´s eclectic use of Hegel´s thought, from the socialising notion of ´objective Geist´ to a trenchant depiction of the ´cleaving´ mind, should not be obscured by his polemic against Idealism. He also offers close readings of Hegel´s texts in order to appraise Bonhoeffer´s criticism, particularly the charge of a ´docetic´ distinction between idea and appearance in Christology. Meanwhile, historical context is provided for Hegel´s ´deconfessionalisation´ of the church vis-à-vis the state and Bonhoeffer´s recovery of the ecclesio-political mark of suffering as non-recognition. The author provides a vital enquiry into the social compositions of faith and reason.

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