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Kierkegaard, Barth, and Neo-Orthodoxy

Fundamentalism and Pentecostalism were not the only movements to counteract the nineteenth century’s philosophical turn to historical consciousness and the rise of liberal theology.

Soren Kierkegaard(A.D. 1813–1855) Danish philosopher and theologian, critic of Hegelianism and modernist Christianity. Kierkegaard mocked the rationalist faith of Enlightenment thinkers and Hegel and stressed instead the faith of the passionate individual. He adapts Hegel’s dialectic to describe the role of... more (1813–1855) initiated the neo-orthodoxy movement with his insistence that absurd faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more was necessary. Karl BarthKarl Barth (A.D. 1886-1968) Swiss Reformed pastor and professor, founding figure of Neo Orthodoxy and probably the most influential Protestant theologian of the 20th century. He was known for a Christocentric theology highly critical of Protestant liberalism. more (1886–1968) built on his ideas regarding revelationThe divine disclosure to humans of future events, God’s will or his nature. more and the transcendenceComes from a Latin term meaning “to go beyond” and is used by modern theologians to describe God being beyond this temporal world. more of God, leading Pope Pius XII to call this ProtestantContrary to popular belief, the term does not refer to protest against the Roman Catholic Church. The term original refers to a formal protest lodged by Lutheran princes against an unfavorable decision made by the imperial Diet of Speyer in... more professor the greatest Christian theologian since Thomas Aquinas(c. A.D. 1225-1274) Dominican friar, teacher at the University of Paris, central figure of medieval scholasticism, and the most authoritative theologian of the Roman Catholic tradition; known for his use of Aristotelian philosophy and his conception of supernatural grace. more.1

Kierkegaard

Kant(A.D. 1724–1804) German thinker generally recognized as the greatest philosopher of the modern period. He revolutionized modern epistemology with the argument that the mind is active in shaping our experience. He argued that we can think, but not know God... more, Hagel, and SchleiermacherFriedrich Schleiermacher (A.D. 1768–1834) German theologian and philosopher, minister in the Reformed church, professor at the University of Berlin (A.D. 1811–1834), and founding figure of Protestant liberalism. He was the most influential Protestant thinker of the 19th century. In response... more had tried to portray Christianity in ways that would make it more acceptable in the modern, scientific world. They proposed models based on reason, ethics, experience, and history to integrate Christianity into the modern psyche. Kierkegaard(A.D. 1813–1855) Danish philosopher and theologian, critic of Hegelianism and modernist Christianity. Kierkegaard mocked the rationalist faith of Enlightenment thinkers and Hegel and stressed instead the faith of the passionate individual. He adapts Hegel’s dialectic to describe the role of... more challenged this whole approach to make Christianity more reasonable. He maintained that this effort missed the essencethe English word generally used for the Greek term ousia, that is also translated as “being” or “substance” and refers to that which makes something what it is such as human nature is the essence of a human being. This... more of Christianity and humanized and domesticated God.

Humans need God to give them the ability, “the condition,” to have the faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more necessary to believe that Jesus(c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 30-33) Also known as Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and Savior of the World. He is the founding figure of Christianity and accepted by Christians as the Son of God in the flesh. He taught... more is God. This is a gift from God, which one can reject. Obtaining and maintaining this gift of faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more is a lifelong task because it is absurd. It defies reason and even ethics. It is a lifelong journey of fear and trembling before God.

Kierkegaard(A.D. 1813–1855) Danish philosopher and theologian, critic of Hegelianism and modernist Christianity. Kierkegaard mocked the rationalist faith of Enlightenment thinkers and Hegel and stressed instead the faith of the passionate individual. He adapts Hegel’s dialectic to describe the role of... more wrote that reason needs to accept its limits and surrender to the reality of the paradox of God in order for the individual to have the faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more necessary to actually “encounter Jesus(c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 30-33) Also known as Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and Savior of the World. He is the founding figure of Christianity and accepted by Christians as the Son of God in the flesh. He taught... more” and to know that he is God. Faith is a passionIn ancient Greek and Roman philosophy this term refers to both feelings and suffering because our superior rational mind suffers from being moved by emotion. Accordingly, passions were viewed as a vice and weakness. Accordingly, ancient moralist viewed passion as... more, similar to loveIn a theological discussion “love” refers to one’s love for God and neighbor and is often referred to as “charity” or the pure love of God. It does not mean giving alms to the poor. more. It acts beyond reason. This passionIn ancient Greek and Roman philosophy this term refers to both feelings and suffering because our superior rational mind suffers from being moved by emotion. Accordingly, passions were viewed as a vice and weakness. Accordingly, ancient moralist viewed passion as... more and loveIn a theological discussion “love” refers to one’s love for God and neighbor and is often referred to as “charity” or the pure love of God. It does not mean giving alms to the poor. more of God was what the Enlightenment’s rational religious views and liberal theology were missing. It is not faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more alone that allows a personDerived from the Latin term persona and the Greek term prosopon. It is a technical term in Christian theology for the concept that the Trinity consist of three separate persons united as one essence with one of the persons (the... more to live comfortably in his “saved” condition. It is not what the Lutheran pastor Dietrich Bonhoffer referred to as “cheap graceIs a term used to identify unmerited assistance by God primarily to redeem and transform human beings. In the early and medieval church it also referred to God’s influence throughout existence. Redemptive grace is important to Augustinian theology which has... more” a century later, before he was executed by the Nazis. This true loveIn a theological discussion “love” refers to one’s love for God and neighbor and is often referred to as “charity” or the pure love of God. It does not mean giving alms to the poor. more of God requires a believer to make a leap of faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more into the unknown. It requires actions based on trust in God. This is not blind faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more but the same type of trust that loveIn a theological discussion “love” refers to one’s love for God and neighbor and is often referred to as “charity” or the pure love of God. It does not mean giving alms to the poor. more requires.2 The in vouge philosophies of the felt the exact opposite.

Barth

Marx felt that religion deceived people so they could cope with their miserable lives. NietzscheFriedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900), declared that God is dead, and the intellectuals of his day had killed him. With the death of God, nihilism was born. more proclaimed that God was dead, and the ordered cosmosthe idea that the universe is one harmonious and orderly system. more died with Him. Freud proclaimed religion was societal neurosisIn psychoanalysis developed by Freud, it refers to the expression of an unconscious psychic conflict through mental or physical disturbances. more. Karl BarthKarl Barth (A.D. 1886-1968) Swiss Reformed pastor and professor, founding figure of Neo Orthodoxy and probably the most influential Protestant theologian of the 20th century. He was known for a Christocentric theology highly critical of Protestant liberalism. more did not waste effort trying to contradict these masters of suspicionA philosophical concept articulated by Paul Ricoeur that some doubts drives the interpretation of consciousness as false. more. Instead, he jumped on their band wagon and commandeered it. He declared that it was every Christian’s duty to be suspicious of their religious traditions and of religion in general. He largely concurred with Feuerbach(A.D. 28 Jul 1804–13 Sep 1872) Ludwig Andreas von Feuerbach was a German philosopher who is often referred to as the first master of suspicion who greatly influenced subsequent skeptics like Karl Marx, Nietzsche, and Freud. He believed that the... more that religion was a human projection where they transformed God into a relatable being. And that is its problem. Religions are institutions and sets of dogmas formed out of human constructs. Finite humans try to put the infinite into a religious box, and it doesn’t fit.

Like Kirkegaard, BarthKarl Barth (A.D. 1886-1968) Swiss Reformed pastor and professor, founding figure of Neo Orthodoxy and probably the most influential Protestant theologian of the 20th century. He was known for a Christocentric theology highly critical of Protestant liberalism. more taught that the defect of religion is that it approaches God from a human perspective, which will always create a flawed picture. Instead of trying to reach God through religion, BarthKarl Barth (A.D. 1886-1968) Swiss Reformed pastor and professor, founding figure of Neo Orthodoxy and probably the most influential Protestant theologian of the 20th century. He was known for a Christocentric theology highly critical of Protestant liberalism. more taught that we must seek Him through revelationThe divine disclosure to humans of future events, God’s will or his nature. more. Like Kirkegaard, BarthKarl Barth (A.D. 1886-1968) Swiss Reformed pastor and professor, founding figure of Neo Orthodoxy and probably the most influential Protestant theologian of the 20th century. He was known for a Christocentric theology highly critical of Protestant liberalism. more insisted that we can’t reach God through any effort on our part. We are wholly dependent on God giving us the capacity to receive His revelationThe divine disclosure to humans of future events, God’s will or his nature. more and for Him to reveal Himself to us. However, we can begin the process by offering a confessionthis word has several theological uses. 1) It refers to the act of confessing one’s sins, and particularly the confession of sins to a priest in the sacrament of Penance, that is often called “Confession;” 2) reciting a creed or... more of faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more based on the Bible. Trying to defend our confessionthis word has several theological uses. 1) It refers to the act of confessing one’s sins, and particularly the confession of sins to a priest in the sacrament of Penance, that is often called “Confession;” 2) reciting a creed or... more of faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more through rational means, however, is to pretend that humans can judge God.3

Professor Tyler Roberts summarized Barth’s ideas regarding these issues in this way:

According to BarthKarl Barth (A.D. 1886-1968) Swiss Reformed pastor and professor, founding figure of Neo Orthodoxy and probably the most influential Protestant theologian of the 20th century. He was known for a Christocentric theology highly critical of Protestant liberalism. more, God is qualitatively distinct from man, utterly transcendent. Consequently, we—on our own—whether it’s through Kant’s postulates or Schleiermacher’s experience, can never bridge the gap between us and God. The more we try to do it through our religion, the more we try to reach God through our own capacities and powers, the more we try to comprehend God or experience God, the more we get caught up in our own purposes and projects—the more we sinIs violation to God’s Law, and implicitly includes disobedience to God’s the command to love God and one’s neighbor. See mortal sin, original sin. more and our religion become unbelief. In our desire for justificationThis term comes from the root Latin word “jus” meaning law or right and “Justus” meaning justice. The words “justification” and “righteous” are different translation of the same Latin word and literally means “becoming just.” The central issue of the... more, for salvation, for fulfillment—we become idol making creatures; we create gods in our own image and, therefore, deafen ourselves to God’s word.4

Barth’s first book, The Epistle to the Romans published in 1918, right after the demoralizing First World War, shocked the Western Christian world. Its message of human arrogance provided a mirror for the Western world to see the fallacies of the nineteenth century’s optimism as expressed in their colonization of the world and in liberal theology. The devastation of World War I(A.D. 1914) World War 1 begins, a four year conflict pitting the British Empire, France, the Russian Empire, and the United States against the German Empire, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire. The British Empire and her allies were victorious, maintaining... more shattered the Western world’s sense of moral superiority, so Barth’s commentary on Paul’s epistle to the Roman’s resonated with the suffering populace and effectively put an end to liberal theology and overt Hegelian philosophy.

BarthKarl Barth (A.D. 1886-1968) Swiss Reformed pastor and professor, founding figure of Neo Orthodoxy and probably the most influential Protestant theologian of the 20th century. He was known for a Christocentric theology highly critical of Protestant liberalism. more further taught that this decree of God’s electionFrom the Latin word for "choice," is a doctrine based on the concept that God chooses (predestines) some individuals to salvation while other to damnation. "Unconditional election" is a Calvinist label for the proposition taught by Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, and... more came first, then the creation and the intentional fall of AdamAccording to Jewish, Christian and Muslim scriptures, Adam was the first human being created by God out of the dust of the earth as the last step of creation. All humans descended from Adam and his wife, Eve, after they... more and EveAccording to Jewish, Christian and Muslim scriptures, all humans descended from Eve after she disobeyed God and partook of a forbidden fruit, causing a fallen world of sin and suffering. (See Adam.) more to fulfill the decree for God to reveal Himself to humankind through Jesus(c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 30-33) Also known as Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and Savior of the World. He is the founding figure of Christianity and accepted by Christians as the Son of God in the flesh. He taught... more ChristDerived from a Greek term meaning anointed and is equivalent to the word “messiah” from Hebrew roots. The anointing references the act of installing a new king similar to the modern custom of crowning a king, so the term “Christ”... more. God became the electing God, the elected man, and the personification of the covenant between God and humans in Jesus(c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 30-33) Also known as Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and Savior of the World. He is the founding figure of Christianity and accepted by Christians as the Son of God in the flesh. He taught... more. ChristDerived from a Greek term meaning anointed and is equivalent to the word “messiah” from Hebrew roots. The anointing references the act of installing a new king similar to the modern custom of crowning a king, so the term “Christ”... more was subject to the double predestinationis a view of predestination that God not only predestines some individuals to go to heaven but that he also predestines others to go to hell. This concept was arguably originated by Calvin but there are traces of this idea... more referred to by CalvinJohn Calvin (A.D. 1509-1564) French Protestant theologian who lived most of his adult life in Geneva. He was the most influential figure in Reformed theology and author of the Institutes, the most important systematic theology text of Protestantism. more. He was predestined to be condemned on the crossWas an agonizing method used by the Roman Empire to execute slaves, rebels and others major offender to the order of the empire. In fulfillment of prophecy, this was the means by which Christ was crucified. Even though some early... more and to be raised from the dead. However, BarthKarl Barth (A.D. 1886-1968) Swiss Reformed pastor and professor, founding figure of Neo Orthodoxy and probably the most influential Protestant theologian of the 20th century. He was known for a Christocentric theology highly critical of Protestant liberalism. more rejected the doctrineis derived from the Latin word for teaching, doctrina, and is an important aspect of Christianity more so than other world religions because Christianity focuses on the teachings and nature of Christ. more of limited atonementIs also called “particular redemption,” which maintains that Jesus did not die for everyone but only for those whom he had previously elected to save. This doctrine was articulated in the Synod of Dordt and is the most controversial part... more expressed in the Synod of Droid. He referred to the scriptures that state ChristDerived from a Greek term meaning anointed and is equivalent to the word “messiah” from Hebrew roots. The anointing references the act of installing a new king similar to the modern custom of crowning a king, so the term “Christ”... more died for all humankind, not just a few. God became incarnate in Jesus(c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 30-33) Also known as Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and Savior of the World. He is the founding figure of Christianity and accepted by Christians as the Son of God in the flesh. He taught... more for the whole human race. In essencethe English word generally used for the Greek term ousia, that is also translated as “being” or “substance” and refers to that which makes something what it is such as human nature is the essence of a human being. This... more, BarthKarl Barth (A.D. 1886-1968) Swiss Reformed pastor and professor, founding figure of Neo Orthodoxy and probably the most influential Protestant theologian of the 20th century. He was known for a Christocentric theology highly critical of Protestant liberalism. more responded to the Puritan JohnJohn (c. A.D. 6–100) was a Jewish fisherman, chosen by Jesus to be one of his 12 Apostles, and appears to have developed an especially close bond with Jesus. John outlived the other Apostles and heavily influenced early Christian thinkers... more Owen’s assertion that God only died to save a few selected believers because God cannot fail, and it is obvious that only a few people will go to heaven, by asking, “Why not?” Maybe Jesus(c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 30-33) Also known as Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and Savior of the World. He is the founding figure of Christianity and accepted by Christians as the Son of God in the flesh. He taught... more did die for everyone. Maybe he was powerful enough to save everyone. This same concept applied to God electing Israel to be his chosen people. But chosen for what? To bless all nations. According to BarthKarl Barth (A.D. 1886-1968) Swiss Reformed pastor and professor, founding figure of Neo Orthodoxy and probably the most influential Protestant theologian of the 20th century. He was known for a Christocentric theology highly critical of Protestant liberalism. more, God likewise chose ChristDerived from a Greek term meaning anointed and is equivalent to the word “messiah” from Hebrew roots. The anointing references the act of installing a new king similar to the modern custom of crowning a king, so the term “Christ”... more to bless all humanity. That is the gospel.6

Paul Ricoeur

The French philosopher Paul RicoeurPaul Ricoeur (A.D. 1913–2005) was a French philosopher who was distinguished for revolutionizing the methods of hermeneutic phenomenology to be applied to textual interpretations of mythology, Biblical exegesis, psychoanalysis, metaphors, and narratives. more (1913–2005) was greatly influenced by BarthKarl Barth (A.D. 1886-1968) Swiss Reformed pastor and professor, founding figure of Neo Orthodoxy and probably the most influential Protestant theologian of the 20th century. He was known for a Christocentric theology highly critical of Protestant liberalism. more and his theological suspicionA philosophical concept articulated by Paul Ricoeur that some doubts drives the interpretation of consciousness as false. more. RicoeurPaul Ricoeur (A.D. 1913–2005) was a French philosopher who was distinguished for revolutionizing the methods of hermeneutic phenomenology to be applied to textual interpretations of mythology, Biblical exegesis, psychoanalysis, metaphors, and narratives. more taught that a mature faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more cannot be based on a fantasy or a desire to escape from reality in order to obtain comfort, control, or self-aggrandizement. It must be based on the deep, personal examination of one’s life in light of their fallibility and susceptibility to these influences. Ricoeur spent five years in a Nazi concentration camp, so he had personal experience dealing with these issues. Like Kirkegaard and BarthKarl Barth (A.D. 1886-1968) Swiss Reformed pastor and professor, founding figure of Neo Orthodoxy and probably the most influential Protestant theologian of the 20th century. He was known for a Christocentric theology highly critical of Protestant liberalism. more, RicoeurPaul Ricoeur (A.D. 1913–2005) was a French philosopher who was distinguished for revolutionizing the methods of hermeneutic phenomenology to be applied to textual interpretations of mythology, Biblical exegesis, psychoanalysis, metaphors, and narratives. more felt that modernity overemphasized human autonomy, not only in regard to using personal, finite human reason to decide what truth is, but also in creating purpose in life. Modernity’s turn to the individual precludes the possibility of one finding fulfillment in anything outside one’s self. This creates a drive to dominate and objectify everything and, in the process, forget what RicoeurPaul Ricoeur (A.D. 1913–2005) was a French philosopher who was distinguished for revolutionizing the methods of hermeneutic phenomenology to be applied to textual interpretations of mythology, Biblical exegesis, psychoanalysis, metaphors, and narratives. more calls “the origin and meaning of life.”

In sum, neo-orthodoxy encouraged individuals to let go of the “self” in order to allow something greater from outside to come in.7

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Fear and Trembling

by Soren Kierkegaard

The infamous and controversial work that made a lasting impression on both modern Protestant theology and existentialist philosophers such as Sartre and Camus. Writing under the pseudonym of “Johannes de silentio,” Kierkegaard expounds his personal view of religion through a discussion of the scene in Genesis in which Abraham prepares to sacrifice his son Isaac at God’s command. Believing Abraham’s unreserved obedience to be the essential leap of faith needed to make a full commitment to his religion, Kierkegaard himself made great sacrifices in order to dedicate his life entirely to his philosophy and to God. The conviction shown in this religious polemic—that a man can have an exceptional mission in life—informed all Kierkegaard’s later writings. His “teleological suspension of the ethical” challenged the contemporary views of Hegel’s universal moral system, and was also hugely influential for both protestant theology and the existentialist movement. Alastair Hannay’s introduction evaluates Kierkegaard’s philosophy and the ways in which it conflicted with more accepted contemporary views. This edition also includes detailed notes to complement this groundbreaking analysis of religion, and a new chronology. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.