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levitybooks 's review for:
The Sickness Unto Death
by Alastair Hannay, Søren Kierkegaard
I've simplified the book in my own terms below for my own reference.
Summary
1.The definition of despair
When one has not grounded one's self, or spirit, in God, one will be in despair at willing to be oneself or in despair at not willing to be oneself. This comes in part from being unable to attribute one's birth or abilities to a meaningful origin or function, regardless of how fruitful one's existence may be. Though one is aesthetically stronger when in greater despair, one is ethically weaker and further from salvation. Lazarus's sickness was not unto death, as despair is not lost at death if there is an afterlife when despair is seen as the result of a lack of religious faith.
2. The origin of despair
Despair occurs from an individual committing an offense to Christianity. Indifference is justified when 'thou shalt' (and Job 42:2) is ignored; doubt is justified by being suspicious of the grace of God's forgiveness; rejection is justified by attempted rationalisation.
3. The definition of sin.
Sin is despair before God. 'Before God' relies on a varying degree of consciousness of and faith in God. The 'moral hierarchy' of sin—or potentiation of despair with respect to one's consciousness of God—is thus: belief (theism), unbelief (indifference), nonbelief (agnosticism), disbelief (atheism). Atheism is the highest potentiation of sin.
4. The definition of faith.
Faith—not virtue—is the opposite of sin. Romans 14:23 "And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin".
5. The result of faith.
A Christian, through faith, learns that "this sickness [despair] is not unto death" (John 11:4). The Christian believes death is the end of life but not of the self/spirit, and so after death, where one lies in the dialectic of faith/sin determines God's judgement. The Christian acquires a courage which the unreligious do not know, by learning fear for something more dreadful than death—even permanent in the eyes of the atheist—namely, hell via God's judgement. When one fears a greater danger, it as though the other did not exist. In this way, Christian faith protects an individual from the absurdity that arises from the fear of death.
Notable quotes
"It must be believed, not comprehended... it either must be believed or one must be offended by it—is it then so meritorious to be determined to comprehend it?... Or is it not rather insolence or thoughtlessness, to will to comprehend that which is not willing to be comprehended? I regard it then as a plain duty to admit that one neither can nor shall comprehend it".
"To defend anything is always to discredit it... he who defends it has never believed in it. If he believes, then the enthusiasm of faith is... not defense, no, it is attack and victory. The believer is a victor".
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I am thankful that some parts of Kierkegaard's writings (those that I think I understand) have helped me move away from atheism back toward Christianity. Kierkegaard's punctuation, sentence structure and section structure are often ambiguous and confusing, but I'm revising my original rating of 4* to 5* regardless of this due to the lasting effect this book has had on my belief, and that it could have for any remotely spiritual person. Even if you are a serious antitheist, atheist or agnostic I'd highly recommend reading this purely as an argument in favour of Christianity.
Summary
1.The definition of despair
When one has not grounded one's self, or spirit, in God, one will be in despair at willing to be oneself or in despair at not willing to be oneself. This comes in part from being unable to attribute one's birth or abilities to a meaningful origin or function, regardless of how fruitful one's existence may be. Though one is aesthetically stronger when in greater despair, one is ethically weaker and further from salvation. Lazarus's sickness was not unto death, as despair is not lost at death if there is an afterlife when despair is seen as the result of a lack of religious faith.
2. The origin of despair
Despair occurs from an individual committing an offense to Christianity. Indifference is justified when 'thou shalt' (and Job 42:2) is ignored; doubt is justified by being suspicious of the grace of God's forgiveness; rejection is justified by attempted rationalisation.
3. The definition of sin.
Sin is despair before God. 'Before God' relies on a varying degree of consciousness of and faith in God. The 'moral hierarchy' of sin—or potentiation of despair with respect to one's consciousness of God—is thus: belief (theism), unbelief (indifference), nonbelief (agnosticism), disbelief (atheism). Atheism is the highest potentiation of sin.
4. The definition of faith.
Faith—not virtue—is the opposite of sin. Romans 14:23 "And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin".
5. The result of faith.
A Christian, through faith, learns that "this sickness [despair] is not unto death" (John 11:4). The Christian believes death is the end of life but not of the self/spirit, and so after death, where one lies in the dialectic of faith/sin determines God's judgement. The Christian acquires a courage which the unreligious do not know, by learning fear for something more dreadful than death—even permanent in the eyes of the atheist—namely, hell via God's judgement. When one fears a greater danger, it as though the other did not exist. In this way, Christian faith protects an individual from the absurdity that arises from the fear of death.
Notable quotes
"It must be believed, not comprehended... it either must be believed or one must be offended by it—is it then so meritorious to be determined to comprehend it?... Or is it not rather insolence or thoughtlessness, to will to comprehend that which is not willing to be comprehended? I regard it then as a plain duty to admit that one neither can nor shall comprehend it".
"To defend anything is always to discredit it... he who defends it has never believed in it. If he believes, then the enthusiasm of faith is... not defense, no, it is attack and victory. The believer is a victor".
----------
I am thankful that some parts of Kierkegaard's writings (those that I think I understand) have helped me move away from atheism back toward Christianity. Kierkegaard's punctuation, sentence structure and section structure are often ambiguous and confusing, but I'm revising my original rating of 4* to 5* regardless of this due to the lasting effect this book has had on my belief, and that it could have for any remotely spiritual person. Even if you are a serious antitheist, atheist or agnostic I'd highly recommend reading this purely as an argument in favour of Christianity.