6 Problems WithTrying to Be SoldOut For Jesus

The Art ofHolding Loosely

SupportingMothers inPoverty< >

A Beginners Guide to KierkegaardOn the philosopher and theologian's 202nd birthday, a look at some of his mostinfluential teachings.

by MICHAEL D. STARK

At the beginning of most of my introduction to philosophy classes, I find myself having toemphasize to my students the practical benefits gained from the study of philosophy. Ichallenge students to think critically about different theories and views we will inevitablyencounter.

To model this, I often start the term with my own personal story with philosophy, much ofwhich centers on 19th Century Danish philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard, whose 202ndbirthday we celebrate today (I discussed part of my journey for RELEVANT onKierkegaard's bicentennial).

4 comments

SHARE 76 Moreft "

KIERKEGAARD MAINTAINS THAT CHRISTIANITY IS NOT MERELY A SET OF DOGMATICCLAIMS. THE POINT OF CHRISTIANITY IS NOT MERE BELIEF, BUT APPROPRIATINGBELIEF FOR HEALTHY LIVING.

As an existential philosopher, Kierkegaard is precisely concerned with how we live ourlives. This issue seems to be more significant to Kierkegaard than holding correct beliefs.

Given that Kierkegaard was a Christian philosopher, this might be surprising to some. Yetthis perspective was useful in Kierkegaards time and remains so now.

The past year or so has involved a plethora of controversies, strained relationships internalto Christianity and unnecessary conflict. Even 160 years after his death, Kierkegaardswritings and philosophies have much that can apply to the lives of Christians in the 21stCentury. Heres a brief introduction to some of the key things he can still teach us, basedlargely on some of his writings in Works of Love.

The Man of Many NamesKierkegaards approach to philosophy is unorthodox. Not only does he examine questionsdifferently than thinkers previous to him, but he writes under the guise of variouspseudonyms. The pseudonymous works were not written to hide Kierkegaards identity,but rather to provide different perspectives on topics surrounding Christianity.

Kierkegaard writes in Point of View that the issue of his entire work as an author is thequestion of becoming a Christian. He wants his readers to understand the gravity of whatChristianity requires of a life, and his method of doing so is not through theologicaltreatises, but through existential examinations from various viewpoints.

Kierkegaards method is called indirect communication. In this process, Kierkegaard wantsthe reader to existentially (or personally) engage his writings in their own unique mannerfrom whatever vantage point readers find themselves. Additionally, it is his method ofshowing the strengths and weaknesses of certain positions.

Kierkegaard takes issue with a purely objective examination of Christian claims. Anobjective evaluation of Christianity removes one from the object of evaluation itself,Christ. Kierkegaard maintains that Christianity is not merely a set of dogmatic claims. Thepoint of Christianity is not mere belief, but appropriating belief for healthy living. Eachperson must take inventory of their Self and engage the narrative of Christianity from thatunique perspective. This is authentic engagement.

THE BEAUTY OF KIERKEGAARD IS ALSO THE DIFFICULTY OF KIERKEGAARD. HE SIMPLYDOES NOT LET THE READER ESCAPE A PERSONAL READING.

Love Your Neighbor As YourselfWhen Luke 10 is invoked, focus is often placed on the neighbor. Kierkegaard rightlyrecognizes that there is a prerequisite for loving others well: In order to achieve this, onemust first love oneself well.

This may seem selfish or backward. Yet what Kierkegaard emphasizes is that one musthave a healthy view of self in order to love others well. How am I to love others well if I donot understand what it means to love myself? How can I respect my neighbor if I cannotfirst respect myself?

The Christian view of self-love is wonderfully distinct from a selfish love. The Christianperspective of love is that it is deeply entrenched in God Himself. Given that we are madein Gods image, this idea of love is deeply rooted in each of us. Yet we have a duty to fosterour love for ourselves.

Kierkegaard writes in Works of Love, This as yourself does not waver in its aim, and withthe firmness of the eternal, it critically penetrates to the innermost hiding place where aman loves himself.

The duty to love others rests deep within us. The means to fulfilling that duty is the asyourself.

Love Your Neighbor As YourselfKierkegaard recognizes the seemingly inseparable connection that ought to exist betweenSelf and neighbor. When Christ gives this command, Kierkegaard stipulates that onesneighbor is as close to the life of self-love as possible. The old golden rule is in play here.We have an obligation, a duty, to do unto others what we would like done unto ourselves.

In Works of Love, Kierkegaard briefly examines the parable of the good Samaritan seen inLuke 10. When Christ asked the Pharisee which of the three individuals in the parableperformed the correct action, the Pharisee acknowledges the correct response: The onewho showed mercy.

Kierkegaard writes, He towards whom I have a duty is my neighbor, and when I fulfill myduty, I prove that I am my neighbor. Christ does not speak about recognizing onesneighbor but about being a neighbor oneself, proving oneself to be a neighbor, something

Culture's Worst Lies About FallingIn Love

3 Things True Love Is Not The Enduring Legacy ofBonhoeffer

the Samaritan showed by his compassion.

The Beauty and Difficulty of KierkegaardThe beauty of Kierkegaard is also the difficulty of Kierkegaard. He simply does not let thereader escape a personal reading. Kierkegaards perspective on Christian values, evidencedhere as love, is not some objective deliberation about the nature of love. Instead he forceshimself and his reader to confront the reality that Christianity is something to live out, notmerely believe absent of appropriating that belief into our lives.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

If Kierkegaard were writing in our contemporary times, I think hed be preaching the samething he did in his context. People seem to speak truth, yet live a life that precludes realChristian truth. For a truth not embedded in love is not Christian truth, and love notembedded with truth is not Christian love. Christ embodied and was the essence of bothtruth and love.

Kierkegaard vividly reminds the Christian that with invisible letters behind every work inHoly Scripture, a disturbing notice confronts (the reader)for there it reads go and dolikewise.

The significance of this command, to go and live Christ-like, is a tremendous one. Its theconclusion to which Kierkegaard seems to build. We are commanded to love like Christloved the Samaritan woman, or Zacheaus, or those who betrayed Him as He hung nearlifelessness on a cross. It is a love unconditional. It is a love of close proximity. It is a lovethat blurs the line between self and other because both parties are the neighbor.

In all the significance that Kierkegaard has had in my life, perhaps none is as important ashow he framed the idea of love, and my duty to love myself and my neighbor the same.

In this next year, I encourage you to read Kierkegaard, to ponder his thoughts. I cant saythat youll always agree, but thats not the point. What I can promise is that he will

4,699"

6,741"

3,847"

VIEW MORE IN GOD

Poll: Replace Andrew Jackson with Harriet Tubman Verizon is Buying AOL for $4.4 Billion

challenge you. That is the point.

COMMENT VIEWCOMMENTS

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

MOST POPULAR

> The Socially Acceptable Sin> 7 Unbiblical Statements Christians Believe> Denzel Washington to College Grads: Put God First in Everything You Do> 10 Mr. Rogers Quotes You Need to Read> What Your Pastors Jeans Say About Their Theology

LATEST SLICES

> Poll: Replace Andrew Jackson with Harriet Tubman> Verizon is Buying AOL for $4.4 Billion> New Guitar Hero Will Feature Alt-J, War on Drugs, Black Keys, Broken Bells and More> Heres the First Trailer for The Muppets> Another Blogger in Bangladesh Has Been Murdered for Criticizing Religious Extremism

TOP COMMENTS

76

t

4" 12"

5/5/2015 12:23 PM

David Williams commented5+-

4 COMMENTS

If you're into Kierkegaard, you might want to listen to the haunting, intense choralarrangement of his prayers by Samuel Barber. Beautiful, spiritual, complex, anddemanding, just like the man himself.

The music is right here. Really. It is. It's well worth 17 minutes of your life:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kemoCE4jaxw

6/5/2015 1:07 AM

Ryan Harrison commented

Michael, I appreciated this article and think it serves its purpose well: to leave thereader wanting to read more of Kierkegaard's works. I'll admit, it's been awhile sinceI've turned to his books on my shelf but it's definitely time! I appreciated the 'go anddo likewise' reminder and will also reflect on blurred lines between neighbor andself. Thanks for this article!

3+-

5/5/2015 12:23 PM

David Williams commented

If you're into Kierkegaard, you might want to listen to the haunting, intense choralarrangement of his prayers by Samuel Barber. Beautiful, spiritual, complex, anddemanding, just like the man himself.

The music is right here. Really. It is. It's well worth 17 minutes of your life:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kemoCE4jaxw

5+-

5/5/2015 1:14 PM

Kristian Stensland commented

- Love Your Neighbor As Yourself. The Sickness Unto Death, is a book written byDanish philosopher, Sren Kierkegaard in 1849 under the pseudonym Anti-Climacus.

3+-

A work of Christian existentialism. - In The Sickness Unto Death, Kierkegaardpersonifies an attitude with the average citizen (spissborger). This is an individualwho is unconsciously fleeing from the opportunity to live an authentic life. Thisaverage citizen often appears as "morally superior" to others, but really this is anunreflected individual. The individual are being swallowed up by social norms andothers expectations, without even being aware of this. The result is that theindividual becomes alienated, both from himselves and the society. An individual'svalues must be the result of an "existential awareness." The important thing is topreserve the independence and responsibility in interacting with other people, andit's precisely this ability the character never did develop (Matthew 22:39). - Asynthesis of individual freedom and existential integrity, however, can only bereached when the individual have seen through all the deception of society. Shouldsomeone discover their freedom in relation to others, the realization must beginfrom scratch, as an expanding opportunity that blows away one's definition of self. Arealization of this can only come into existence, through the establishment ofanother center for an individual's values, identity, the self, our freedom, etc. ForKierkegaard it is God (Christianity), but then released from a variety of religious andsecular beliefs related to him - that opens the self from inside and establishes adifferent center for the individual's identity, values, the self and our freedom. -Kierkegaard didn't believe in finding the perfect "system". To the "system" as thesolution to everything. Because any system is based on rational principles, andsubjectivity is not rational. A person who has fulfilled the unconditional self-examination, Kierkegaard requires, have reached the limit for how far theintellectual sense can lead us. This change puts everything in proper relation toman. Spiritually, it means that God brings Christians to new life from a previous stateof sub

5/5/2015 1:23 PM

Kristian Stensland replied to Kristian Stensland's comment

Spiritually, it means that God brings Christians to new life from a previousstate of subjection to the decay of death (Ephesians 2:2). (Regeneration.)

0+-

6/5/2015 1:07 AM

Ryan Harrison commented3+-

ON SALEONLY$1

P E R M O N T H

SUBSCRIBE

VIEW THE ISSUE

TABLET EDITION

CURRENT ISSUE

Please log in or register to comment

Michael, I appreciated this article and think it serves its purpose well: to leave thereader wanting to read more of Kierkegaard's works. I'll admit, it's been awhile sinceI've turned to his books on my shelf but it's definitely time! I appreciated the 'go anddo likewise' reminder and will also reflect on blurred lines between neighbor andself. Thanks for this article!

LOGIN

LOGIN

LOGIN

ftg

................................

................................................ADVERTISEMENT

FOLLOW US FacebookTwitterYouTubeInstagram

LIFE

How to Poison Your Marriage in 3 Easy Steps

CULTURE

Denzel Washington to College Grads: Put God First in Everything You Do

MOST POPULAR' EDITOR'S PICKS

2885"

WATCH & LISTEN

GOD

6 Problems With Trying to Be Sold Out For Jesus

81512"

5730"

Episode 441: Lauren WinnerMay 8, 2015

This week, Jesse joins the crew in-studio and Joy makes her return from sabbaticaland we do something weve neverdone in 10 years of podcasting:...

PODCAST THE DROP RTV

PLAY NOW

INSIDE THE MAGAZINE

Hillsong Goes HollywoodI walk in the door and theres all these cameras and Im just like Oh my gosh, whats happening?...READ THIS

VIEW MORE EPISODES >>

Theres a book on the prophets in here somewhere,...

RELEVANT THIS WEEK

Get the best RELEVANT content each week, straight to your inbox!

EMAIL

SUBMIT

Marc Maron: Wrestling with Big Questions

Judah Smith Is ____It's Just Business4 Churches Changing EverythingThe Non-Religious Case Against Pornography

See more in this issue]

VIEW MORE ISSUES >>

2013RELEVANTMediaGroup

Advertise

Privacy

TermsofUse