Kierkegaard and a religionless Christianity : the place of SĂžren Kierkegaard in the thought of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The central aim of this thesis is to analyse the influence of Kierkegaard on Bonhoeffer. This relationship has been almost universally recognized. And yet this area has received no comprehensive study, limited within the secondary literature to footnotes, digressions, and the occasional paper. Furthermore, what little literature there is has been plagued by several stereotypes. First, discussion is often limited to Discipleship. Second, Kierkegaard has been identified as an individualist and acosmist who rejected the church, leading many to consider Bonhoeffer the ecumenist and ecclesiologist as selectively agreeing with Kierkegaard, but ultimately rejecting his overall stance. This thesis will argue that neither stereotype is true, and suggest (a), that Kierkegaardâs influence can be found throughout Bonhoefferâs work, and (b) that although a more stereotypical perspective may be present in SC, by the end of his life Bonhoeffer had gained a far deeper understanding across the breadth of Kierkegaardâs work. The importance of this thesis is not simply to âplug the gapâ of scholarship in this area, but also to suggest the importance of analysing Kierkegaard and Bonhoeffer together. This will focus
Kirkpatrick, Matthew D.
Modern theology ; Modern Western philosophy ; Ethics ; Christianity and Christian spirituality ; Philosophy,psychology and sociology of religion ; Philosophical theology ; Kierkegaard ; Bonhoeffer ; Ethics ; Ecclesiology ; Epistemology ; Idealism ; Attack on Idealism ; Attack on Christendom ; Christology
Kierkegaard and a religionless Christianity : the place of SĂžren Kierkegaard in the thought of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The central aim of this thesis is to analyse the influence of Kierkegaard on Bonhoeffer. This relationship has been almost universally recognized. And yet this area has received no comprehensive study, limited within the secondary literature to footnotes, digressions, and the occasional paper. Furthermore, what little literature there is has been plagued by several stereotypes. First, discussion is often limited to Discipleship. Second, Kierkegaard has been identified as an individualist and acosmist who rejected the church, leading many to consider Bonhoeffer the ecumenist and ecclesiologist as selectively agreeing with Kierkegaard, but ultimately rejecting his overall stance. This thesis will argue that neither stereotype is true, and suggest (a), that Kierkegaardâs influence can be found throughout Bonhoefferâs work, and (b) that although a more stereotypical perspective may be present in SC, by the end of his life Bonhoeffer had gained a far deeper understanding across the breadth of Kierkegaardâs work. The importance of this thesis is not simply to âplug the gapâ of scholarship in this area, but also to suggest the importance of analysing Kierkegaard and Bonhoeffer together. This will focus
kierkegaard christianity place kierkegaard think central aim_analyse influence kierkegaard relationship almost universally recognize yet area_receive comprehensive_study limit within secondary_literature footnote digression occasional paper furthermore little literature plague several stereotype first discussion often limited discipleship second kierkegaard identify individualist reject church lead many consider selectively agree kierkegaard ultimately reject overall stance argue_neither stereotype true suggest kierkegaard influence find_throughout work although stereotypical perspective may present end life gain far deep across breadth kierkegaard work importance simply gap scholarship area also_suggest importance analyse kierkegaard together focus