Thoughts from Kierkegaard
So I've been reading a lot of Kierkegaard lately, especially from his book Works of Love, and the collection Provocations. I must admit, I love Kierkegaard because he doesn't hold things back, much like James' does in his book. Some thoughts that have gotten me to think:"I wonder if a person handing another person an extremely sharp, polished, two edged instrument would hand it over with the air, gestures, and expression of one delivering a bouquet of flowers? Would not this be madness? What does one do, then? Convinced of the excellence of the dangerous instrument, one recommends it unreservedly, to be sure, but in such a way that in a certain sense one warns against it. So it is with Christianity."
"Practicing Christian faith is not very useful and it is highly impractical. Indeed, is there anything more impractical than offering one's life for the truth? Is there anything more foolish than not looking to one's own advantage? Is there anything more ridiculous than making one's life difficult and strenuous and being rewarded with insults? Is there anything more impractical than being labeled - not with titles and honors - but with abuse and ridicule? For a sailor to die at sea where he reached his life in the hope of profit, for the soldier to fall in battle where he risked his life in the hope of becoming a general - that is more like it, that is practical - but to die for the truth!"
"Christianity had been made so much into a consolation that people have forgotten that it is first and foremost demand."
"Christ comes to the world as the example, constantly enjoining:Imitate me. We humans prefer to adore him instead."
"Some suggestions by way of a few questions: Can one be a Christian at all without being a disciple? Can Christianity which came into the world to strengthen and inspire us morally, be changed in such a way that it demoralizes us with the help of easy 'grace'? -Can one be a Christian in that manner? Is it all right to take from the world the promises for this life, which it has because it has no eternal salvation to point to, and to take from Christianity the promises of eternity, which it has because it demands renunciation of this life, and mix these together so it gets to be really bonbon (twice as sweet) - is it all right to call this Christianity and be a Christian in this way? And if by virtue of 'grace' it can be done, must not one thing at least be demanded, that we realize clearly what we have done and how hypnotically we are drawing upon 'grace'?"
Ouch...
posted by Marvin @ 12:52 AM
Comments: 0
