Kierkegaard as radical Christian thinker

pages: 81-99

Abstract

The main goal of this paper is the reaffirmation and emphasis of the radical, revolutionary aspect of Kierkegaard’s thought which has been mainly neglected in the standard literature on the Danish thinker. The author contends that there were two crises in Kierkegaard’s life: in 1838 and 1848. In 1838 Kierkegaard completely withdrew from the world and people into his “hidden inwardness”, which he claimed to be the essence of true Christianity. In 1848 he broke through his isolation and spoke openly of his new conviction. He stressed the practical and revolutionary character of Christianity, which demanded revolutionary change of the entire society and inner revolution in the individual personality in accordance with the authentic early Christian faith. Keywords: radical change, hidden inwardness, true Christianity, religion, Christendom, act, critique of the public opinion, human personality