Kierkegaard And Christianity
Soren Kierkegaard is said to be one of the "founding fathers" of
existentialism. His style of writing, his tone and vocabulary tie him closely to another forerunner of existentialist thought: Fyodor Dostoevsky (although either of them would probably deny this vehemently). However, in the course of his writings, Kierkegaard takes quite a liberal and (dare I say it?) individualistic stand on the side of Christianity. In the passages I have read of Kierkegaard ("That Individual" and "Truth is Subjectivity"), he puts forward two basic themes which seem to be his "driving force" behind each piece respectively. It is behind these themes that Kierkegaard makes his forceful drive to discover the ...
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of obtaining said goal (in this case the eternal truth) if we each seek after the goal as individuals. In crowds, he says, it is sure that no one is working, living, striving for the highest aim, but only for one or another earthly aim. Only as individuals (with God as our helper) can we obtain that which is the absolute, eternal truth. In these beginning paragraphs, Kierkegaard has already set his theme for this passage: that only as individuals with the help of God can one achieve the goal, or "eternal truth", that is Christianity.
As we delve deeper into the passage, we almost discover a politico-religious message hits us shortly after he forms his original premise. Kierkegaard states that the crowd being the untruth, none has more disregard for what it is to be a man than those people who see fit to lead this flock of falsehood. In elaboration, Kierkegaard goes on to state that even Christ, who taught the incognizant masses about human compassion and salvation through the ...
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human equality, that if everyone were to truly love his neighbor as himself then complete human equality would be attained. He does show some resentment with this ideology, however, in that loving one's neighbor is simply a form of self-denial -- a way to make what seems to be an easier truth than that which one would aspire to. In this respect, Kierkegaard says that placing one's authority in this system is also the untruth.
In his finishing statements, Kierkegaard defends the penitent attitude of the "good" Christian. He sets up an interesting argument: How can one so weak and impotent (in his own mind) successfully make his stand against a crowd who possesses the power? His answer: ...
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"Kierkegaard And Christianity." Essayworld.com. December 21, 2005. Accessed April 18, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Kierkegaard-And-Christianity/38325.
"Kierkegaard And Christianity." Essayworld.com. December 21, 2005. Accessed April 18, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Kierkegaard-And-Christianity/38325.
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