The Life And Works Of Kierkegaard
The Life and Works of Kierkegaard
Born in Copenhagen on May 5, 1813, Søren Kierkegaard was part of a wealthy Danish family. His Mother, Anne Sørensdatter Lund Kierkegaard, has been found referenced only a few times in his writings. However it is apparent that Kierkegaard’s Father was a very strong influence in his life.
Excruciatingly religious, Michael Pedersen Kierkegaard was haunted by the sins of his youth. In his early days of poverty, he cursed God; and at another time he had sexual intercourse with Kierkegaard’s mother outside of wedlock. It is possible that this was when Kierkegaard was conceived. Michael somehow believed that, as punishment from above, none of his children would live beyond the age of 33 years old; the age of Christ at the time of His crucifixion. While most of his seven children did in fact die young, his imaginary curse was lifted when two fruits of his loins made it to 34 and kept on ticking.
His Father’s fear and guilt were an early (and perhaps unhealthy) lesson to Kierkegaard on the severity of sin and its effects on future generations.
Despite the woeful disposition of his Father, Kierkegaard often enjoyed playing games with him in his youth that encouraged his prodigious imagination.
Many years later, while on his deathbed on August 9, 1838, Kierkegaard’s father made his wish known for his son to become a pastor. Shortly after, Søren wrote,
"My father died on Wednesday. I had so very much wished that he might live a few years longer, and I look upon his death as the last sacrifice which he made to his love for me; ... he died for me in order that, if possible, I might still turn into something. Of all that I have inherited from him, the recollection of him, his transfigured portrait ... is dearest to me, and I will be careful to preserve [his memory] safely hidden from the world.”
Thus the strong spiritual influence that Søren’s father had over him led him to feel...
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