Defending Organized Religion and Kierkegaard’s Anti-Climacus :: Essays Papers

Defending Organized Religion and Kierkegaards Anti-ClimacusPractice in Christianity, written by the pseudonym1 of Anti-Climacus, describes the ideal Christian life from the perspective of the ideal Christian. Anti- in the whizz of Anti-Climacus is not an indication of opposition (to Climacus, the devoutly non-Christian ethicist and editor of Either/Or whose esthetic sense was oddly keen). Rather, Anti- is an older form of ante, meaning before both in the sense of time and in the sense of rank. Anti-Climacus is the perfect Christian this was efficacious to Kierkegaard, who could not claim that distinction for himself. Practice in Christianity deals harshly with the Churchs homogenization of Christianity by removing its offensive activityness. This paper will examine and analyze several(prenominal) passages from Practice in Christianity, draw parallels between the inoffensive Church of Denmark in the mid-19th century and both the charismatic and High-Church2 traditions of wors hip in the United States today, and suggest criteria for sincere, offensive worship in an organized church.Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and state to him, Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another? And Jesus answered them, Go and tell John what you hear and see the blind receive their sight and the decrepit walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is he who takes no offense at me.-Matthew 112-6 RSVThe possibility of offense is the crossroad, or it is like standing at the crossroadone never come to faith except from the possibility of offense.-Anti-Climacus Practice in Christianity, pg. 81What is offensive about Christianity? Surely such a question is absurd, even blasphemous The word Christianity implies to many people a lifestyle characterized by altruism, kindness, mercy and sincere loveeven after centuries of monar chs and murderers alike have used Christianity as an excuse for a variety of causes. Consider also the Christians devotion to God and attempted emulation of Christit is surely impossible to take umbrage at this patently inoffensive way of life. This line of products makes great sense to many who call themselves Christians. Indeed, the concept of Christianity as a belief system is unlikely to offend many. The practice of Christianity, on the other hand, is particularly offensive, albeit not in the sense in which offensive is particularly used.