Kierkegaard

[artrx]

Can anyone recommend a good summary of Soren Kierkegaard's thought either on the internet or a book? Something more than an encyclopedic entry but not a full scale study (!). We were given a summary of his thought to read for a study group, but I am finding parts of it a bit confusing. thanks!

 

[intricatic]

This seems to be a decent essay. He was an existentialist, they're all really confusing.

 

[artrx]

True, but sometimes reading even summaries in different words/emphases helps to clarify things. Thanks for the site!
does anyone know of an introductory booklet of some sort? I'll check amazon as well but it's nice to get recommendations.

 

[oneshot012]

I am doing a paper on him for school and the book that I used is quite old but I found it very helpful:

Printed in 1935
Written by John A Bain
Title: Soren Kierkegaard His Life and Religous Teaching

 

[intricatic]

Was it the philosophical end you're interested in, or the theological? I don't really care for Kierkegaard as far as theology, and his philosophy wasn't much better... but he definitely provides some interesting reading.

 

[artrx]

The main emphasis is on his theological thought but from the short chapter i read for the group it seems like you can't really separate the two. However, like you wrote, there are some intresting ideas I'd like to get a better grasp of. Unfortunately after this week we move on to the responses to modernity that came out of Catholic Christianity and the work of John Henery Newman. This is my 4th year in a lay ministry program designed by Swannee, Theological Seminary of the South (Episcopal); OT, NT, church historyand theological choices. It's a wonderful overview if not a very in depth study.

Thank you for the reference Oneshot. I'll check it out in local libraries.

 

[The-Doctor]

I would recomend "An introduction to Kikkegaard" it gives a basic view of his life and thoughts.

One of my favorite philosphers...He summed up faith in the story of Issac being sacrificed by his father because God wanted him to. Soren stated that his father had not even questioned this request and acted on pure faith.

"Life can only be understood backwards but must be lived forwards" Kikkegaard

 

[chrismon]

From the series "Maker of the Modern Theological Mind"

http://www.amazon.com/Soren-Kierkeg...ef=sr_1_4/104-9437942-4227914?ie=UTF8&s=books


I really appreciate Kierkegaard's understanding of discipleship and what it means to be a Christian, but I think his philosophy inslacking, especially when it meets Christian ethics. Due to his existentialism, he is far too caught up in seeing the human mind and heart as the starting place. Albeit, he understands there is a "higher life", above a merely ethical one, but he still gets caught in making excuses for God's behavior so that we might feel better about God. I find this to be highly objectionable since it make us the standard rather beginning the conversation as one about God. With that said, what I dearly love about S.K. is how Duncan (the author of the book linked above) put it:

"[Kierkegaard] thought of Christanity not as a doctrine to be learned but a life to be lived, a way of life to be chosen...[his readers have] a choice to make."

Do not be confused that this is meant wholly in an existential way - it is not only the behavior that S.K. seeks, but the choosing!