A Macat Analysis of Søren Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling
What is the nature of our personal relationship with God? That’s the core question of Fear and Trembling. If God asks us to do something we instinctively feel is unethical, must we obey and have faith that He knows best? Examining this question, the Danish philosopher Kierkegaard considers the Biblical story in which God commands Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. His unique reading of the story breaks new ground, focusing on our relationship with God at an individual level and arguing that true faith means maintaining hope, even in the face of despair. It also means trusting implicitly in God’s purpose—as Abraham did.
Kierkegaard believed his book would secure him a lasting reputation—and as time has gone by he’s been proved right. Though published in 1843, Fear and Trembling has inspired rebels throughout the twentieth century—from Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi to Martin Luther King, Jr. in the American civil rights movement.
