|
Soren Kierkegaard wrote the ''Eighteen Upbuilding Discourses'' during the years of 1843–1844. These discourses were translated from Danish to English in the 1940s, and from Danish to German in the 1950s, and then to English again in 1990. These Discourses were published along with Kierkegaard's pseudonymous works. Scholars generally say that "Kierkegaard's books were of two kinds. There was a series of books ascribed to pseudonyms, which Kierkegaard described as "aesthetic" in character. In Either/Or, Fear and Trembling, and Repetition (Kierkegaard), Kierkegaard explores the nature of human passions in a variety of forms, often presenting his own experiences in a poetically disguised narrative". The pseudonymous books as well as his discourses are understood to be directed to the love of his life, Regine Olsen. "He hoped to reveal himself at last to Regine in this "indirect" manner. At the same time that these aesthetic writings were being published, Kierkegaard wrote a series of edifying, sermon like essays, although he was careful to insist that they were not sermons, in part because he had not been ordained and therefore lacked "authority." Through these he communicated his underlying religious commitments in a more "direct" fashion. Kierkegaard continued to write these "edifying discourses" throughout his life, but as he grew older they focused on more distinctively Christian themes and took on a decidedly sharper tone."〔''Soren Kierkegaard's Christian Psychology: Insight for Counseling and Pastoral Care'' By C. Stephen Evans, Regent College Publishing, 1995 p. 16〕 Kierkegaard says individuals are "squeezed into the forms of actuality" but that they have a choice as to what form they will put on. He says "the transition made in ''Either/Or'' is substantially that from a poet-existence to an ethical existence.〔''Point of View'', Lowrie, Note: p. 74〕 He "held out Either/Or to the world in his left hand, and in his right he held the Two Edifying Discourses; but all, or as good as all, grasped with their right what he held in his left hand. Kierkegaard wrote in 1848, “I had made up my mind before God what I should do: I staked my case on the Two Edifying Discourses; but I understood perfectly that only very few understood them. And here for the first time comes in the category ‘that individual' who with joy and gratitude I call ''my reader''.’ A stereo typed formula which was repeated in the Preface to every collection of Edifying Discourses.〔Point of View p. 19-20〕 Now he holds out these two discourses of 1844 with his right hand and hopes for better results. He says in his dedication to "that single individual', Although this little book (which is called “discourses’, not sermons, because its author does not have authority to preach; “upbuilding discourses,” not discourses for upbuilding, because the speaker by no means claims to be a teacher) has left out something, it nevertheless has forgotten nothing; although it is not without hope in the world, it nevertheless totally renounces all hope in the uncertain or of the uncertain. Tempted, perhaps, as the earlier ones were not, it takes no delight in “going to the house of feasting,” desires as little as they “that its visit might be in vain” (I Thessalonians 2:1); even though a person was not without education insofar as he learned from what he suffered, it still would never be very pleasant if he needed to suffer much in order to learn little. Its desire is to give thanks if on the word of authority it were to win the tacit permission of the multitude to dare to go its way unnoticed in order to find what it seeks: that single individual whom I with joy and gratitude call my reader, who with the right hand accepts what is offered with the right hand; that single individual who at the opportune time takes out what he received and hides what he took out until he takes it out again and thus by his good will, his wisdom, invests the humble gift to the benefit and joy of one who continually desires only to be as one absent on a journey. S.K. ''Eighteen Upbuilding Discourses'', Hong Preface p. 179 How can we learn from what we suffer? Kierkegaard said, "it is Governance that has educated me."〔Point of View p. 74-75〕 This would mean Divine Governance since he capitalized the word. His works lead a person from being governed by everything that happens to him to one who can choose how he is going to govern himself. Kierkegaard wrote in Works of Love "You have to do only with what you do unto others, or how you take what others do unto you. The direction is inward; essentially you have to do only with yourself before God. This world of inwardness, this rendition of what other people call actuality, this is actuality. The Christian like for like belongs to this world of inwardness."〔Works of Love, Hong, 1995 p. 384 see p. 375-386〕 We can learn through the application of patience. Every individual is equal〔Either/Or Part II p. 286, Eighteen Upbuilding Discourses p. 141-142〕 because every individual has a choice,〔and "the choice itself is crucial for the content of the personality: through the choice the personality submerges itself in that which is being chosen, and when it does not choose, it withers away in atrophy." Either/Or II p. 163〕 an eternal soul,〔''Eighteen Upbuilding Discourses'' p. 159-161〕 expectations of faith〔''Eighteen Upbuilding Discourses'' p.16-19〕 and love〔''Either/Or Part II'' p. 96-97〕 and patience. All of these inner goods are "good and perfect gifts from God". And the knowledge that you need God is the all important gift from God according to Kierkegaard.〔''Eighteen Upbuilding Discourses'' p. 97-99〕 These two discourses deal with patience. Kierkegaard says each person must be involved in forming his own personality. The individual must be patient in her expectations. == Structure == These two discourses are the only discourses of his eighteen discourses that lack a dedication to his father. Perhaps it was dedicated to his mother Ane since it deals with keeping expectation alive even when suffering loss and Ane lost five of her seven children.〔''Kierkegaard'', by Josiah Thompson, Published by Alfred p. Knoff, inc, 1973 p. 14-15, 26-29, 43-44 ISBN 0-394-47092-3〕 Luke 2:33-40 "And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed." And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phan'u-el, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and as a widow till she was eighty-four."Would you rather," She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him." ''The Bible'' (RSV)〔Here are the verses in context: http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/r/rsv/rsv-idx?type=DIV1&byte=4782437〕 His Two Upbuilding Discourses of 1844: * ''To Preserve One's Soul in Patience'', Luke 21.19, "By your endurance you will gain your lives." The Bible (RSV) * ''Patience in Expectation'', Luke 2:33-40 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Two Upbuilding Discourses, 1844」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|