Provocations: Spiritual Writings of Kierkegaard

Question: why is Kierkegaard still relevant today? The answer: practicality. There is a difference between studying something academically in a philosophy class, or a theology class versus grasping a concept that can be transformative in one’s living situation. In brief terms, there’s a difference between the wisdom of Academia versus practical wisdom transmitted through the ages. I believe Kierkegaard would’ve wanted his philosophy to be available to men and women in their living situation: nurturing if you will a developing and maturing soul. For Kierkegaard, spiritual development isn't about hoarding knowledge, or cloister getaway behind academic walls. Rather, it's about commitment to living authentically before the Creator. Including the following: 1. Accept a degree of uncertainty and ambiguity as part of our living situation. Concentrate on discovering a deeper meaning and purpose. This necessitates engagement, not just laboratory analysis regarding our position in society. 2. Do not remain in passivity: Living with a focused self-directed intentionality should carry with it straightforwardness, joined with integrity. 3. Prioritize Authenticity and intentionality within and without – understanding that life is about relationships, including our relationship with Yahweh. ----- To clarify Key Points: “Leap of Faith” ----- Kierkegaard specified that genuine belief requires a “leap”: a passionate act of will deliberately, motivating a choice; (a choice that might seem at odds with deductive reasoning alone): a kind of radical commitment beyond the veil of empiricism. ----- Additionally: Existential Anxiety ----- We cannot avoid anxiety: we should accept degrees of uncertainty. Nevertheless it should be stressed that true spiritual growth occurs when we embrace the anxiety and discomfort – it is 'the rack' that stretches us to a greater purpose where we might stand just a little bit taller. ===== Application: For Modern Culture ===== Consumerism: in contemporary society, you often hear the phrase, 'He who dies with the most toys wins.' This represents an endless hunt for novelty. Yet, in the end, such relentless acquisition turns out to be hollow. When we measure success only by the number of things we own, we may lose sight of what truly matters: meaningful relationships, and personal growth. Social Media: a type of performance art. By presenting a false image on Facebook we are not living authentically. In conclusion, I wanted to add a little bit about myself: I’m a person of faith that has found Kierkegaard not only useful but relevant on my spiritual journey. I believe you will as well. Before I go, I want to leave you with this: “Life Can Only Be Understood Backwards, But It Must Be Lived Forwards.”

I have dedicated a few years of my life to Kierkegaard's writings, in various undergrad and graduate level philosophy/theology courses. So I understand first-hand the intricate attention required to fully appreciate the aims and motivations of his authorship. I first came across Provocations, compiled by Charles E. Moore, as a free PDF download --free, and yet so valuable. Being able to Ctrl+F search through the text for relevant material was when the sheer utility of this book truly hit me. This book makes Kierkegaard accessible to everyone. Period. That makes it an achievement all by itself. Having said that, I readily admit the danger in reducing SK's body of work into chunks of quotable aphorisms and excerpts (even as pithy and awesomely sharp as he was). But I am willing to sacrifice a bit of the hermenutical depth for the every-man if it means the many can quickly interact with gems that have otherwise taken a few scholars generations to sift through the rich soil of SK's journals and works to discover. Bottom line: this book is awesome, in the most strict sense of the term. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

While written centuries ago, this is probably one of the most important Christian works for contemporary Christianity. Kierkegaard's message about the difference between spirituality (inwardness) and religion (human behaviors and expressions) is a timeless one. These essays provoke one to reflect on his or her relationship with the Divine, his or her own life's authenticity, and faith versus knowledge. A strength of this collection of essays is that they are very brief, full of meaning, and give one a lot to ponder. One can read one or two essays and then spend time really digesting and ruminating on what Kierkegaard was provoking him or her to meditate on. I find them great for personal devotions. If one belongs to a "commercial" style mega church or really enjoys the sweet writings of televangelists who write books commingling positive psychology with Scripture, then Provocations will shake his or her faith to seek a deeper connection with God. Kierkegaard will challenge any theologian too. This is just a fantastic work and good medicine for the soul. These essays are not for bringing a non-believer to Christ because it is not intended to bring one to a justification by grace alone through faith alone; That is the work of the Gospel. Rather, these are sanctifying essays for the confessional Christian.

A VERY comprehensive collection by topic from each SK work!

I've always heard that Kierkegaard is an almost impossible-to-understand writer - for most ordinary folks anyway. If that's true, then this book is a spectacularly successful attempt to create a 'Kierkegaard for Dummies', because even *I* could understand it. It's a long time since I read a book that had me so continually muttering, 'yes... YES!' and that made me want to bang my fist on the arm of the chair and then jump up and down shouting 'Exactly!!! RIGHT!!!' (er, I didn't do any of this - it tends to attract odd looks from other passengers in the bus... But I wanted to) In a nutshell, Kierkegaard's big 'thing' is that religion must be personal - in the sense that it engages the whole person, not just the intellect. It's something you DO, not just a statement of belief to be intellectually accepted. Reading the New Testament isn't an intellectual exercise, it's a terrifying risk, because you don't know where it might lead you. The New Testament, he says, 'is a handbook for those who are to be sacrificed.' 'If God's word is merely a doctrine, then it is no mirror... While reading God's word you must incessantly say to yourself: It is *I* to whom it is speaking; it is *I* about whom it is speaking.' 'When Christianity entered the world, people were not Christians, and the difficulty was to become a Christian. Nowadays the difficulty in becoming a Christian is that one must cease to be a 'Christian'' And so on. If any of the above quotes strike a chord with you, you might like to check this book out. It's demanding stuff, not in the intellectual sense, but in the demanding challenges it throws out about how we live our lives (and live our faith). And yet at times it's also laugh-out-loud funny - in the way that some comedians make us laugh by describing everyday life and making us see it for the first time. Definitely recommended!

This book will take me many re-readings. It is profoundly challenging in the sense that it makes the reader think deeply about what Kierkegaard saw as being spiritual corruption. It has allowed me to put into my own words my personal belief in the sanctity of life, and the profound suffering involved in being an individual in the true sense of the word. To stand alone, to stand up for what you believe, to see through all the greed, group minds and manipulations that exist in the way we conceive of "the sacred". To be militant and strong and non-violent and ruthless and determined to live a life based on love, tenderness, joy, inner peace and gratitude for the chance to be here at all. Read it - it will free you from delusion and madness.

Excellemnt compilation onthe wriitngs on the writing of Soren Kiekegaard

I am a great lover of Kierkegaard, and have tried to introduce him to my father and brother before now, but they always find him dense and off-putting. One approach is books about Kierkegaard by others, but these I have found to be as dull as they are clear. 'Provocations' is the answer. It is a collection of extracts from Kierkegaards own writing, but carefully edited and picked to be him at his clearest. Both my brother and father enjoyed it, and found it clear. I myself felt that it gave a pretty good idea where he's coming from. The book clearly sets out where all the extracts are taken from, so it makes a great jumping off point to his books.