Overview

Johannes de Silentio, the pseudonymous author of Fear and Trembling, concludes that faith is ""absurd"" (irrational), and therefore lies beyond the scope of reason. But if we ascribe authorship ultimately to Kierkegaard, as is common practice, we must conclude that he himself is an irrationalist. Given the myriad of competing voices throughout Kierkegaard's writings, this seems highly questionable at best.If, however, we take the pseudonymous author strictly at his authorial word, it changes the shape and dynamic of the text inviting us to read it, instead, as a ""thought experiment."" In this way, the text demonstrates both the absurdity and sin of reason in its bid to fully grasp the mystery of faith on its own rational terms.

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9781606086551

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Who can deny that Fear and Trembling looms large in the Kierkegaardian imagination? Many readers assume that this is Soren's last and best word on faith. But it is not his last word, or his best word. It is not even his word. Cudney dwells with this text, wrestling above all with the challenges posed by the pseudonymous authorship. He knows that the pseudonymous nature is not peripheral to the book. It is the key to its successes and its failures. Cudney combines intellectual rigor with personal engagement, pointed critique with generosity of spirit. He is existentially invested in the world of Fear and Trembling and its authorship. Surely, the Master would be proud. --Stephen Backhouse, author of Kierkegaard's Critique of Christian Nationalism and Kierkegaard: A Single Life

Author Information

Shane R. Cudney received his PhD from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands (in a joint program with The Institute for Christian Studies in Toronto, Canada).

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