Kierkegaard's theology of encounter : an edifying and polemical life / David Lappano.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lappano, David James, 1979- author.

Series:

Oxford theology & religion monographs.

Oxford theology & religion monographs

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Kierkegaard, Søren, 1813-1855--Religion.

Kierkegaard, Søren.

Kierkegaard, Søren, 1813-1855.

Religion.

Physical Description:

vi, 264 pages ; 24 cm.

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Oxford ; New York, NY : Oxford University Press, 2017.

Summary:

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 human-God relationship and in social relationships from the bass of what can be called a Kierkegaardian theology of encounter Lappano argues that the theology of encounter brings together the edifying and the polemical aspects of relgiousness 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. Book jacket.

Contents:

Part I Kierkegaard's Social and Intellectual Context

1 The Historical and Intellectual Context of Kierkegaard's Authorship 15

Part II Encountering the Self before God in Confession and Communion: The Edifying and the Polemical in the Individual

2 In Church, On the Occasion of Confession 39

3 In Church, On the Occasion of Communion 59

Part III Encountering the Public and Encountering the Neighbour: The Edifying and the Polemical in the World

4 A Polemical Encounter with 'The Public': The Present Age and Kierkegaard's Critique of a Society without Persons 71

5 An Edifying Corrective to the Spiritlessness' of the Age: The Eternal 101

6 Edifying Practice I: Encountering Neighbours and the Works of Love 127

7 Edifying Practice II: Building Up a Diverse Society of Persons 152

Part IV Encountering Christendom and Encountering Disciples: The Edifying and the Polemical in the Church

8 The Church and Christendom: Kierkegaard's Polemical Stance Prior to the 1855 Attack Campaign 183

9 Where the Polemical Meets the Edifying: Becoming a Church Militant 212

10 The Church Militant: Extramural and Intramural Christianity 237.

ISBN:

9780198792437

0198792433

OCLC:

970391904