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 specimen Christian life from the perspective of the ideal Christian. Anti- in the gumption of Anti-Climacus is not an indication of opposition (to Climacus, the devoutly non-Christian ethician and editor of Either/Or whose esthetic sense was particularly keen). Rather, Anti- is an cured 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 useful to Kierkegaard, who could not claim that distinction for himself. Practice in Christianity deals harshly with the Churchs homogenization of Christianity by removing its wickedness. This paper will examine and analyze several(prenominal) passages from Practice in Christianity, draw parallels between the in uneasy Church of Denmark in the mid-19th century and both the charismatic and High-Church2 traditions of worship in the United States today, and advert criteria for sincere, offensive worship in an organized church.Now when John comprehend in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent contrive by his disciples and said to him, Are you he who is to get hold, or shall we look for other? And Jesus answered them, Go and tell John what you hear and see the dim receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers ar 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 dismal The word Christianity implies to many people a lifestyle characterized by altruism, kindness, gentleness and sincere loveeven after centuries of mo narchs and murderers alike have utilise Christianity as an excuse for a variety of causes. Consider also the Christians devotion to God and attempted emulation of Christit is certainly impossible to take umbrage at this patently inoffensive route of life. This argument 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.