Soren Kierkegaard's Theology of Encounter: An Edifying and Polemical Life (Oxford Theology and Religion Monographs)

"Soren Kierkegaard's Theology of Encounter provides a theoretical framework that brings the unity of Kierkegaard's 'middle period' into relief. David Lappano analyses Kierkegaard's writings between 1846 and 1852 when the socially constructive dimension of his thought comes to prominence, involving two dialectical aspects of religiousness identified by Kierkegaard: they are the edifying and the polemical. How these come together and get worked out in the lives of individuals form the basis of what can be called a Kierkegaardian 'social praxis.' Lappano argues that the tension between the edifying and the polemical can be coherently maintained in a communicative life that is also characteristic of a militant faith. This militant faith and life is presented as a critical guard against absolutisms, fundamentalisms, and intellectual aloofness; but the 'militant' individual is also utterly dependent, in need of edification and critique, and therefore chooses the risk of encountering others, seeking relationships out of a commitment to the development of people and communities in co-operation. Therefore, not only does this dialectic provide readers with an important theoretical framework for understanding Kierkegaard's 'middle period', it is also a valuable resource for a constructive analysis of active social living suitable for theology in the twenty-first century." --From publisher's description Cover Kierkegaard ́s Theology of Encounter: An Edifying and Polemical Life Copyright Acknowledgements Contents List of Abbreviations Introduction The Dialectic of Religious Life in Kierkegaard’s Authorship After 1846 The Theological Basis for this Study Refined Statement of the Project The Periodization of Kierkegaard’s authorship and the Parameters of this Study: 1846 to 1852 Situating the Study A Kierkegaardian theology of Encounter: The Method and Structure of the Project Part I: Kierkegaard ́s Social and Intellectual Context 1: The Historical and Intellectual Context of Kierkegaard ́s Authorship Danish Lutheranism and Pietism Romanticism-Homesickness, Irony, and the Creative Production of Life Hegel Kierkegaard ́s Modern Copenhagen Little Copenhagen: The `Market Town ́ Big Copenhagen: A Spectacular City Conclusion Part II: Encountering the Self before God in Confession and Communion 2: In Church, On the Occasion of Confession Genre, Occasion, Place, and Practice The Shape of the Argument The Edifying Discourse is A Polemic against The Individual In Church, before God Sin Confession From Consciousness of Sin to Consciousness of Forgiveness 3: In Church, On the Occasion of Communion The Gift of Choice Independence in Dependence Communion, Life, and Love Conclusion (Leaving The Sanctuary and Returning to The City) Part III: Encountering the Public and Encountering the Neighbour 4: A Polemical Encounter with `The Public ́: The Present Age and Kierkegaard ́s Critique of a Society without Persons Introduction The Situation Levelling The World-Historical Aspect of Levelling Levelling as Abstraction and a Movement Away from the Individual `The crowd ́ and `the public ́ Phantom Agents of One-Dimensional Society The Public as Subject The Press, Anonymity, and Publicity-Communication of the Crowd The conformity, cruelty, and tyranny of `the public ́ The Public as (Bourgeois) Political Instrument The Public as Idol Opposition Sociality must Pass Through Levelling Turning to the Present and the Future Levelling Revisited-An Education Conclusion 5: An Edifying Corrective to the `Spiritlessness ́ of the Age: The Eternal Introduction The Changing Seas Below and the Starry Heavens Above Eternity ́s Temporal Situation The `Moment ́ and History Eternity ́s `Double Direction ́-The Eternal Task Today Eternity ́s `Double Direction ́-The Eternal Task of the Future Eternity ́s `double mode ́ Conclusion 6: Edifying Practice I: Encountering Neighbours and the Works of Love Introduction The Ground of Love Encountering Neighbours Who is the Neighbour? Who is the Neighbour? Neighbourly Love is Blind With Open Eyes to Love the Neighbour We See 7: Edifying Practice II: Building Up a Diverse Society of Persons Introduction Platitudes or Politics Love is Action From Distinctions to Distinctiveness Opposing Small-Mindedness and Domineering Ideologies The Work of Love is a Communicative Practice Towards an Open Communicative Community of Individuals Conclusion Part IV: Encountering Christendom and Encountering Disciples 8: The Church and Christendom: Kierkegaard ́s Polemical Stance Prior to the 1855 Attack Campaign The Church and the Problem of Extensity: Christendom Kierkegaard ́s Polemic Against Religious Agents of Levelling The Professor The Priests and Pastors Against Mercantile Christianity Proclamation and Witness Conclusion 9: Where the Polemical Meets the Edifying: Becoming a Church Militant From Extensity to Intensity: The Church Militant and the Category of the Individual From Truth as Results to Truth as the Way: Becoming Militant Contemporaneity and the Imitation of Christ Pastors, Disciples, and Martyrs Christianity Without Authority: Incognito and Unrecognizable Conclusion 10: The Church Militant: Extramural and Intramural Christianity Introduction Kierkegaard and Christianity Beyond Church The Congregation Revisited Confession and Communion Revisited Some Concluding Remarks Bibliography Texts by Kierkegaard Texts about Kierkegaard Other texts consulted Index Part I. Kierkegaard's Social And Intellectual Context. The Historical And Intellectual Context Of Kierkegaard's Authorship -- Part Ii. Encountering The Self Before God In Confession And Communion: The Edifying And The Polemical In The Individual. In Church, On The Occasion Of Confession -- In Church, On The Occasion Of Communion -- Part Iii. Encountering The Public And Encountering The Neighbour: The Edifying And The Polemical In The World. A Polemical Encounter With 'the Public': The Present Age And Kierkegaard's Critique Of A Society Without Persons -- An Edifying Corrective To The 'spiritlessness' Of The Age: The Eternal -- Edifying Practice I: Encountering Neighbours And The Works Of Love -- Edifying Practice Ii: Building Up A Diverse Society Of Persons -- Part Iv. Encountering Christendom And Encountering Disciples: The Edifying And The Polemical In The Church. The Church And Christendom: Kierkegaard's Polemical Stance Prior To The 1855 Attack Campaign -- Where The Polemical Meets The Edifying: Becoming A Church Militant -- The Church Militant: Extramural And Intramural Christianity. David Lappano. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This study considers the social and political aspects of Kierkegaard's authorship, building upon work over the last couple of decades. Dr Lappano focuses on Kierkegaard's writing between 1846 and 1852, the period of Kierkegaard's more explicitly politicized writing