Kierkegaard and the Theology of the Nineteenth Century

The Paradox and the 'Point of Contact'

George Pattison

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Year: 2012
• ISBN:
  9781139786478
• Topic: Philosophy
• Subtopic: Modern Philosophy

This study shows how Kierkegaard's mature theological writings reflect his engagement with the wide range of theological positions which he encountered as a student, including German and Danish Romanticism, Hegelianism and the writings of Fichte and Schleiermacher. George Pattison draws on both major and lesser-known works to show the complexity and nuances of Kierkegaard's theological position, which remained closer to Schleiermacher's affirmation of religion as a 'feeling of absolute dependence' than to the Barthian denial of any 'point of contact', with which he is often associated. Pattison also explores ways in which Kierkegaard's theological thought can be related to thinkers such as Heidegger and John Henry Newman, and its continuing relevance to present-day debates about secular faith. His volume will be of great interest to scholars and students of philosophy and theology.

Table of contents

• Cover
• KIERKEGAARD AND THE THEOLOGY OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Acknowledgements
• References to Kierkegaard’s works
• Abbreviations of Kierkegaard titles
• INTRODUCTION Kierkegaard as student and writer of theology
• CHAPTER 1 Beginning with the beginning of modern theology
• CHAPTER 2 Speculative theology
• CHAPTER 3 David Friedrich Strauss
• CHAPTER 4 Immanence and transcendence
• CHAPTER 5 Out there with the lilies and the birds
• CHAPTER 6 Sin
• CHAPTER 7 Redemption
• CHAPTER 8 Proclaiming the Word
• CHAPTER 9 Christianity after the Church
• CHAPTER 10 Kierkegaard’s hands
• Bibliography
• Index