A friend of mine has been reading about Bonhoeffer extensively in preparation for some type of scholastic dispensation as of recently. Here are his remarks, followed by Bonhoeffer's radical thoughts on defining peace apart from security.
[from catholicanarchy.org]
More and more I’m convinced that Bonhoeffer’s most powerful material comes not from his classic, well-known works, but his speeches and sermons delivered for particular occasions. The following is an excerpt from another speech at an ecumenical conference on the Church’s vocation of peace, titled “The Church and the Peoples of the World.”
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"How does peace come about? Through a system of political treaties? Through the investment of international capital in different countries? Through the big banks, through money? Or through universal peaceful rearmament in order to guarantee peace? Through none of these, for the single reason that in all of them peace is confused with safety. There is no way to peace along the way of safety. For peace must be dared. It is the great venture. It can never be safe. Peace is the opposite of security. To demand guarantees is to mistrust, and this mistrust in turn brings forth war. To look for guarantees is to want to protect oneself. Peace means to give oneself altogether to the law of God, wanting no security, but in faith and obedience laying the destiny of the nations in the hand of Almighty God, not trying to direct it for selfish purposes. Battles are won, not with weapons, but with God. They are won where the way leads to the cross.”
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