Christian Discourses

by Søren Kierkegaard, D.D. Walter Lowrie (Translator)

First published in 1848, "Christian Discourses" is a quartet of pieces written and arranged in contrasting styles. Parts One and Three, "The Cares of the Pagans" and "Thoughts That Wound from Behind--for Upbuilding," serve as a polemical overture to Kierkegaard's collision with the established order of Christendom. Yet Parts Two and Four, "Joyful Notes in the Strife of Suffering" and "Discourses at the Communion on Fridays," are reassuring affirmations of the joy and blessedness of Christian life in a world of adversity and suffering. Written in ordinary language, the work combines simplicity and inwardness with reflection and presents crucial Christian concepts and presuppositions with unusual clarity.

Kierkegaard continued in the pattern that he began with his first pseudonymous esthetic work, "Either/Or," by pairing "Christian Discourses" with "The Crisis," an unsigned esthetic essay on contemporary Danish actress Joanne Luise Heiberg.

Genres: Philosophy, Religion, Theology

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1901

About the author

Søren Aabye Kierkegaard was a prolific 19th century Danish philosopher and theologian. Kierkegaard strongly criticised both the Hegelianism of his time and what he saw as the empty formalities of the Church of Denmark. Much of his work deals with religious themes such as faith in God, the institution of the Christian Church, Christian ethics and theology, and the emotions and feelings of individuals when faced with life choices. His early work was written under various pseudonyms who present their own distinctive viewpoints in a complex dialogue.

Kierkegaard left the task of discovering the meaning of his works to the reader, because "the task must be made difficult, for only the difficult inspires the noble-hearted". Scholars have interpreted Kierkegaard variously as an existentialist, neo-orthodoxist, postmodernist, humanist, and individualist.

Crossing the boundaries of philosophy, theology, psychology, and literature, he is an influential figure in contemporary thought.

Reviews

[Connor Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good meditation on verses in the Gospel. Lots to take away and think about from this book. Enjoy and be joyful.

[Daniel Goodman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those familiar with Kierkegaard's famed enigmatic writing style will find this volume wonderfully "simple." It contrasts greatly with the authors typical approach of using pseudonyms and philosophical jargon. Here, Kierkegaard is direct, convicting, and edifying. The devotional material and sermons here demonstrate how much Kierkegaard's was influenced by Christian themes of sin, faith, anxiety, joy, obedience, and love. His gift for introspection also lends itself well to very poignant observations of the human condition.

Through it all, Kierkegaard again and again presents a existential picture of the human soul whose satisfaction, cure, and happiness can only be found in total surrender and faithful obedience to a holy God. Those who blame Kierkegaard for the trajectory of (godless) existentialism or individualism will find Kierkegaard stepping-into, and simultaneously subverting, those very philosophies in his approach to the Christian faith. A recommended read for those who wish to see a very different--and often downplayed--side of Kierkegaard.

[Xavier Cantin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Were I a Christian I would likely have agreed more with it and found it more fun. I only read The Lilies of the Field and the Birds of the Air but I might revisit the rest some other time. This was the first of Kierkegaard I have read and, while I believe what he's saying in his premises is true somewhat, he never goes to the proper conclusion in my opinion. Many times I thought what he was saying was somewhat a non sequitur in todays age with what philosophy has developed to today or here and there he does special pleading or false dichotomies, I think those don't matter to the believer as I think what he says would strengthen them. For what it's worth, it wasn't that bad of a read and it was still insightful and we can draw a more secular conclusion outside the book without issue. This is not that problematic in the end.

[Bill Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

These discourses are from the last half of SK’s writings and date from 1848-1849. Unlike many of his earlier works they are overtly confessional and plainly discuss matters of faith and the Christian Life which for SK revolves around such themes as: total trust in God’s will, self denial, suffering, sacrifice, renunciation of the values of his age, imitation of Christ.
They serve as the prelude for his more pointed and acerbic attacks (written during the early 1850s) on the “Christian Culture” and the Danish institutionalized church of his day — which he calls CHRISTENDOM.

[Tadeas Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only read the Lillies, but a wonderful little piece of philosophy mixed with theology. Loved the soft method of speaking mixed in with the pleasant metaphores. Even wrote a seminar work on this.
Ach, nebeský otče, Amen!

[tomas p · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing, im kierke'd

[Rachel Feeck]

Less mind bending than my last attempt at Kierkegaard, fortunately.

[Will Schumer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wanted salvation, ended up hating the Danish Lutheran church.