Contents include:

Foreword

Editor's Preface

Introduction by the Editor

Preface

Introduction


BOOK ONE: The Objective Problem Concerning the Truth of Christianity

Introductory Remarks

Chapter I: The Historical Point of View
1. The Holy Scriptures
2. The Church
3. The Proof of the Centuries for the Truth of Christianity

Chapter II: The Speculative Point of View

BOOK TWO: The Subjective Problem, The Relation of the Subject to the Truth of Christianity, The Problem of Becoming a Christian

PART ONE: Something About Lessing

Chapter I: An Expression of Gratitude

Chapter II: Theses Possibly or Actually Attributable to Lessing
1. The subjective existing thinker has regard to the dialectics of the process of communication
2. The existing subjective thinker is in his existential relation to the truth as negative as he is positive; he has a much humor as he has essential pathos; and he is constantly in process
of becoming, i.e. he is always striving
3. Lessing has said that accidental historical truths can never serve as proofs for eternal truths of the reason; and that the transition by which it is proposed to base an eternal truth upon
historical testimony is a leap
4. Lessing has said that, if God held all truth in His right hand, and in His left the lifelong pursuit of it, he would choose the left hand
A. A logical system is possible
B. An existential system is possible

PART TWO: How the Subjectivity of the Individual Must be Qualified in Order that the Problem May Exist for Him

Chapter I: The Task of Becoming Subjective. The conclusion that would be forced upon ethics if the attainment of subjectivity were not the highest task confronting a human being-Considerations left out of account in connection with the closer understanding of this-Examples of thinking directed towards becoming subjective

Chapter II: The Subjective Truth, Inwardness; Truth is Subjectivity
Appendix. A Glance at the Contemporary Effort in Danish Literature

Chapter III: Real or Ethical Subjectivity-The Subjective Thinker
1. Existence and Reality
2. Possibility as higher than Reality-Reality as higher than Possibility-Poetic and Intellectual Ideality-Ethical Ideality
3. The Simultaneity of the Individual Factors of Subjectivity in the Existing Subject-The Constrast between this Simultaneity and the Speculative Process
4. The Subjective Thinker-his Task, his Form, his Style

Chapter IV: The Problem of the Fragments: How can an Eternal Happiness be based upon Historical Knowledge?
Section I. For Orientation in the Plan of the Fragments

1. That the point of departure was taken in the pagan consciousness, and why
2. The importance of a preliminary agreement concerning what Christianity is, before there can be any question of mediating between Christianity and speculative thought. The absence of such
an agreement favors the proposal of medication, while at the same time making any mediation illusory; the presence of such an agreement precludes mediation
3. The problem of the Fragments viewed as a problem, introductory not to Christianity, but to becoming a Christian

Section II. The Problem Itself. The eternal happiness of the individual is decided in time through the relationship to something historical, which is furthermore of such a character as to oinclude in its composition that which by virtue of its essence cannot become historical, and must therefore become such by virtue of the absurd

A. Existential Pathos
1. The Initial Expression for Existential Pathos: the absolute direction (respect) toward the absolute telos, expressed in action through the transformation of the individual's existence
Aesthetic Pathos-The deceptiveness of the principle of mediation-The medieval monastic movement-The simultaneous maintenance of an absolute relationship to the absolute telos and a
relative relationship to the relative ends
2. The Essential Expression for Existential pathos: Suffering-Fortune and misforutne as the expression for an aesthetic view of life, in constradistinction to suffering as the expression of a
religious view (illustrated by reference to the religious discourse)-The Reality of suffering (humor)-The reality of suffering in the last instance as evidence for the possession by
the existing individual of a relationship to an eternal happiness-The illusion of religiosity-The category of Anfechtung-The primary ground and significance of the religious
suffering: The dying away from the life of immediacy while still remaining in the finite-An edifying divertisement-Humor as an incognito for religiosity
3. The Decisive Expression for existential pathos: Guilt-That the investigation goes backward instead of forward-The eternal recollection of guilt is the highest expression for the relation
between the consciousness of guilt and an eternal happiness-Lower expressions for the consciousness of guilt, and corresponding forms of satisfaction-Self-imposted penance-Humor-The
religiosity of hidden inwardness
Intermediate Clause between A and B

B. The Dilectical
1. The dialectical contradiction which constitutes the breach: to expect an eternal happiness in time through a relationship to something else in time
2. The dialectical constradiction that an eternal happiness is based upon something historical
3. The dialectical contradiction that the historical fact here in question is not a simple historical fact, but is constituted by that which only against its nature can become historical,
hence by virtue of the absurd
Appendix to B. The retroactive effect of the dialectical upon the pathetic, and the factor simultaneously present in the pathos
(a) The consciousness of sin
(b) The possibililty of offense
(c) The smart of sympathy

Chapter V. Conclusion. About Childish Christianity

Appendix. For an Understanding with the Reader

First and Last Declaration

Notes

Index

Originally published in 1941.

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