"Selections From the Writings of Kierkegaard" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kierkegaard Soren)

When Kierkegaard finally published "The Preparation for a
Christian Life," the bishop was, indeed, incensed; but he did
nothing. Nor did any one else venture forth. Still worse affront!
Kierkegaard had said his last word, had stated his ultimatum and it
was received with indifference, it seemed. Nevertheless he decided
to wait and see what effect his books would have for he hesitated
to draw the last conclusions and mortally wound the old man
tottering on the brink of his grave by thus attacking the Church.
There followed a three years' period of silence on the part of
Kierkegaard again certainly a proof of his utter sincerity. It must
be remembered, in this connection, that the very last thing
Kierkegaard desired was an external reorganization, a "reform," of
the Church indeed, he firmly refused to be identified with any
movement of secession, differing in this respect vitally from his
contemporaries Vinet and Grundtvig who otherwise had so much
in common with him. His only wish was to infuse life and
inwardness into the existing forms. And far from being inferior to
them in this he was here at one with the Founder and the Early
Church in that he states the aim of the Christian Life to be, not to
transform the existing social order, but to transcend it. For the very
same reason, coupled to be sure with a pronounced aristocratic
individualism, he is utterly and unreasonably indifferent, and even
antagonistic, to the great social movements of his time, to the
political upheavals of 1848, to the revolutionary advances of
science.

As Kierkegaard now considered his career virtually concluded, he
wrote (1851) a brief account "About my Activity as an Author"
in,which he furnishes his readers a key to its unfolding from an
aesthetic view to the religious view which he considers his own
education by Providence; and indicates it to be his special task to
call attention, without authority, to the religious, the Christian life.
His "Viewpoint for my Activity as an Author," published by his
brother only long after his death, likewise deflnes the purpose of
the whole "authorship," besides containing important biographical
material.

At length (January, 1854) Mynster died. Even then Kierkegaard,
though still on his guard, might not have felt called upon to have
recourse to stronger measures if it had liot been for an unfortunate
sentence in the funeral sermon preached by the now famous
Martensen generally pointed out as the successor to the primacy
with whom Kierkegaard had already broken a lance or two.
Martensen had declared Mynster to have been "one of the holy
chain of witnesses for the truth (sandhedsvidner) which extends
through the centuries down from the time of the Apostles." This is
the provocation for which Kierkegaard had waited. "Bishop
Mynster a witness for the truth"! he bursts out, "You who read this,
you know well what in a Christian sense is a witness for the truth.
Still, let me remind you that to be one, it is absolutely essential to