Bierkergaard: The Writings of Soren Kierkegaard

Well, thought I might be able to get through the summary timeline of Soren's life as written by Walter Lowrie in his translation of "Training In Christianity." This book was the final tome Kierkegaard wrote in his lifetime so it is very useful and interesting to review the progression of his life and literary career chronologically. Hopefully, we can finish up the timeline next week and see how this book was a fitting conclusion to his writings.

This week and next week we will get into the backstory of this book as well as review a timeline of Soren's life, his book publishing dates, and the events that contributed to his writings. This episode is not a reading line by line of the Introduction and Preface type of materials. Just selected quotes. I may decide to do this selected quotes approach of his remaining books because there are far too many books to read line by line for me to finish them with the current approach. I am still weighing this. Reminder that you can join the Bierkergaard Facebook Group and follow me on X and the IG. Just search Bierkergaard.

Soren called himself "One without authority." He had considered the pastorate but felt God's call to be a writer. So, the Upbuilding Discourses were first for him. To uplift himself and perhaps also the series of the "single individuals" who'd glean spiritual benefit from his writings and whom he called "My readers." His goal: "Introducing Christianity to Christendom." The Supplemental notes that we finished up today provide a glimpse into the insults he endured, the struggles he had with prayer, and other things. Including running out of money. We are officially finished the 18 Upbuilding Discourses and will now take on "Training in Christianity." Added some music to the Intro and will change the thumbnail picture for the podcast after this final episode of Season 3 is posted. Each Season is a book and most Episodes are reading through that given book. The thumbnail picture will show that. The books are the focus and guests are secondary. It is the only way we will get through all of his books. Remember, in the end, Soren wanted to be known as a poet. To present and express the faith in his own unique literary manner. "I call myself a learner." That is how the book ends. To be a teacher, one first must be a learner.

Selected entries from Kierkegaard's Journals and Papers pertaining to 18 Upbuilding Discourses. I thought I could finish it off today. Alas, one more week! After next week we'll be moving on to "Training In Christianity."

Soren writes, "So the struggle goes...his prayer calls on God for help against himself." The greatest enemy is yourself.

Soren writes, "The one whose calm eyes seek only God...this inwardness is guarded as a sacred fire within a person."

Soren writes, "Even though He does not fulfill every wish, He still lives closer to us and is moved by the strugglers cry." God may answer "No" to our prayer as it is not in accordance with His will. No is an answer. Yet, He hears us. Draw comfort from that.

Soren writes that we "Win By Losing" in prayer. We let go of our will and pray for God's will. Peace is at a premium in this world and the way to have it is to lay down all manipulation, probability, and scheming.

The purpose of prayer is to will the good. To want what God wants. Today I used the line from Kierkegaard "Don't be a Reward-Hungry Sensate Person" as the basis for my rant. And it is rant, yet not fly-off-the-handle rant, but a reflection of where we are at as a culture. Kierkegaard gives us the insight to be better than our culture. Being just like our adversaries makes us no better than them.

Soren writes that a conciliatory spirit is the hardest revenge. "The worst punishment for insults is to forget them." Losing is winning.