Theology of Søren Kierkegaard
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Søren Kierkegaard's theology has been a major influence in the development of 20th century theology. Søren Kierkegaard (1813–1855) was a 19th-century Danish philosopher who has been generally considered the "Father of Existentialism". During his later years (1848–1855), most of his writings shifted from being philosophical in nature to being religious.
Kierkegaard's theology focuses on the single individual in relation to an unprovable, yet known God. Many of his writings were a directed assault against all of Christendom, Christianity as a political and social entity. His target was the Danish State Church, which represented Christendom in Denmark. Christendom, in Kierkegaard's view, made individuals lazy in their religion. Many of the citizens were officially "Christians", without having any idea of what it meant to be a Christian. Kierkegaard attempted to awaken Christians to the need for unconditional religious commitment. However he was also against party spirit in religion as well as other areas of study and system building.
Selected religious works
- (1847) Edifying Discourses in Diverse Spirits
- (1847) Works of Love
- (1848) Christian Discourses
- (1848) The Book on Adler
- (1849) The Sickness Unto Death
- (1850) Training in Christianity
- (1851) For Self-Examination
- (1851) Judge for Yourselves!
