Reading from the Underside of Selfhood

"In light of the nearly legendary stature that Dietrich Bonhoeffer . . . has attained in our time, it is a daunting challenge to tackle the thorny issue of the way his theology can be, and at times has been, employed to further abuse and oppression rather than liberation by a facile confusion of submission to the needs of others with authentic Christian discipleship. Lisa Dahill, herself a Lutheran theologian, has addressed this problem with courage and balance. . . . May this excellent study be read by many."

-Han van den Blink, Professor Emeritus of Ascetical and Pastoral Theology, Bexley Hall Episcopal Seminary



"Lisa Dahill's study of the spirituality of Dietrich Bonhoeffer in relation to the experience of women victims of gender-based abuse is a remarkable combination of unflinching academically-based criticism and deeply appreciative appropriation of Bonhoeffer's challenging and inspiring spirituality. It also offers a highly original theoretical approach to the study of spirituality as a rich and demanding resource for those who deal pastorally with abuse victims in a faith context as well as for all of us who, in one way or another, deal with the "underside" of our own selfhood. Her conclusions about both the value of particular spiritualities for the universal church and the non-universality of particular spiritualities themselves demonstrate precisely the specific contribution of the scholarly study of spirituality in itself rather than as a subset or offshoot of theology, ethics, or the personal or social sciences."

-Sandra M. Schneiders, Professor of New Testament and Christian Spirituality, Jesuit School of Theology