Kierkegaard's critique of Christian nationalism
by Backhouse, Stephen, 1976-
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Kierkegaard's Critique of Christian Nationalism
by
Stephen Backhouse
4.56 · Rating details · 9 ratings · 4 reviews
'Christian nationalism' refers to the set of ideas in which belief in the development and superiority of one's national group is combined with, or underwritten by, Christian theology and practice. A critique of Christian nationalism is implicit throughout the thought of Soren Kierkegaard, an analysis inseparable from his wider aim of reintroducing Christianity into Christendom.
Stephen Backhouse examines the nationalist theologies of Kierkegaard's contemporaries H.L. Martensen and N.F.S. Grundtvig, to show how Kierkegaard's thought developed in response to the writings of these important cultural leaders of the day. Kierkegaard's response formed the backbone of his own philosophical and theological project, namely his attempt to form authentic Christian individuals through the use of 'the moment', 'the leap' and 'contemporaneity'.
This study brings Kierkegaard's critique of Christian nationalism into conversation with current political science theories of religious nationalism and reflects on the implications of Kierkegaard's radical approach. While the critique is unsettling to politicians and church leaders alike, nevertheless there is much to commend it to the reality of modern religious and social life. As a theological thinker keenly aware of the unique problems posed by Christendom, Kierkegaard's critique is timely for any Christian culture that is tempted to confuse its faith with patriotism or national affiliation. (less)
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Hardcover, 272 pages
Published September 2nd 2011 by Oxford University Press, USA (first published July 7th 2011)
ISBN
019960472X (ISBN13: 9780199604722)
Edition Language
English
COMMUNITY REVIEWS
Showing 1-34
Average rating4.56 ·
Rating details
· 9 ratings · 4 reviews
Mar 05, 2018Azzam To'meh rated it it was amazing
With the rise of religious nationalism, and the twenty-first century being called the century of religious conflict, the role of religious nationalism is on the rise. However, the emergence of this form of nationalism is not new and has been struggled with for ages now. In his book, Kierkegaard's Critique of Christian Nationalism, Stephen Backhouse attempts to explain the deconstruction of Kierkegaard to what is called Christian Nationalism. If religion is a personal relationship between one person and God, then to elevate such a relationship to a national level is bound to trump the emphasis on the individual and his relationship to the divine.
This, does not come in such a simple form though. The perception of historical development, the individual, free will, and Christianity per se are all warped into the construction of this Nationalism. Backhouse contextualizes Kierkegaard with two contemporary thinkers, H.L. Martensen, who believed that European triumph was indicative of the Christian truth, and N.F.S. Grundtvig, who thought of Danish triumph as the necessity for the rise of Christianity in the world. The intermingling of religion as state was seen as essential for both writers. This, of course, is evident nowadays In America's One Nation Under God, and Britain's God Save the Queen. The linking of the divine to the nation is ever more evident, and as such, is up to questioning.
So, what was Kierkegaard's response to all this. Backhouse states that Kierkegaard's vision of history attempts to grant the most importance to the present, as opposed to past and future. This goes against the tenant of Nationalism, the destiny of self-rule (or in this case, world and afterworld domination) which the nation is to actualize. It is an ideology which privileges past and future, as opposed to the past. However, Kierkegaard states that if Christ is the truth, then he is ever-present. For Christ, thus, there is no past and future, but only one time. Hence, if the nation is to actualize itself, it is to be through the present, and not through an outlook towards the future. This, of course, shows that Christianity is in direct conflict with a perennial essentialist understanding of nationalism, and claims that this nationalism can be overcome with proper relation to God. How generalizable this intimate relation to God is can be questioned however. If Le Bon's concept of the masses is to be applied, then Kierkegaard's request for the fully actualized personal relationship with God is to be rendered impossible. While it may have redemptive power, and allow for the resurrection of the individual, it is only he who is capable of becoming fully an individual that can benefit from this personal relationship. For the elite, there is God. For the masses, there is the nation.
Another point Kierkegaard highlights is an inherent contradiction in Christian nationalism. Religious nationalists claim that it is success which will prove the truth of the religion to the world. However, Kierkegaard states that the deepest meaning in Christianity is not success, but suffering. Hence, while the Christian nationalist think that they are bringing out the full actualization of Christianity, they are actually bringing about its demise. The church, for Kierkegaard, attempts to replace God as the absolute which needs all people to be directed towards. This, for Grundtvig, Kierkegaard's nemesis, can only happen through the building of the perfect state. Hence, one needs to be fully Danish in order to be fully Christian. Kierkegaard goes fully against that. If Christ is the atemporal truth, and one needs to be fully with truth, then one needs to get rid of all temporal accidents which taint his purity. Nationalism as such is a disease which prevents one from fully aligning him/herself with the truth. This, of course, is not limited to Christianity, but it endemic of most religions. Whether it is 9/11, the Burma massacres, or abortion clinic shootings, all religiously motivated political violence aims at the actualization of the dominance of the religion. In a society where the dominance hierarchy gets ever steeper, the role of the metaphysical in world domination will only increase.
Backhouse's book is important in addressing both a historical issue and a contemporary one. As a political theologian, he is the perfect individual to address the problems of religion and nationalism. Kierkegaard, as presented by Backhouse, seems suitable to treat all violence in the name of religion. However, the economic aspect of the nation is rarely dealt with in the book. Kierkegaard and his contemporaries seem to presume that all pursuits are value driven, and while the benefit of the doubt might be granted that this was the case, the rise of corporatism and its rule in evoking religion is on the rise. The book is beneficial for students of theology, politics, philosophy, and history. It is a great addition to any library of a humanities academic.
(less)
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Jan 30, 2022Ross Von Hausen rated it it was amazing
Shelves: kierkegaard
4.5 Stars
flag1 like · Like · comment · see review
Mar 01, 2014Fernando Navarro rated it liked it
I have a an excerpt that I think it would sum up the whole book:
"Every effort that tends toward the establishment of a Christian State, a Christian people, is eo ipso un-Christian, anti-Christian." Soren Kierkegaard (less)
flag1 like · Like · comment · see review
Feb 05, 2016Chet Duke rated it really liked it
Shelves: philosophy, theology, christian-history
Fantastic book that speaks to the depth of SK's criticism of Christian nationalism, specifically within his own Danish state church. Not only does Backhouse cover the ideas and theological positions of Grundtvig, Mynster, and Martensen (such information is largely unavailable to those that can't read Danish, as far as I know), but he also goes through the development Kierkegaard's orientation to the church. Backhouse also seemed to remain pretty straightforward in his interpretation of SK. Lots of good material in the bibliography.
Definitely valuable for students or anyone interested in issues of Christianity's relationship to the nation, patriotism, and identity. (less)
flagLike · comment · see review
ABSTRACT
The book draws out the critique of Christian nationalism that is implicit throughout the thought of Søren Kierkegaard, an analysis that is inseparable from his wider aim of reintroducing Christianity into Christendom. ‘Christian nationalism’ refers to the set of ideas in which belief in the development and superiority of one's national group is combined with, or underwritten by, Christian theology and practice. The book examines the nationalist theologies of H. L. Martensen and N. F. S. Grundtvig, important cultural leaders and contemporaries of Kierkegaard. Kierkegaard's response to their thought forms the backbone of his own philosophical and theological project, namely his attempt to form authentic Christian individuals through the use of ‘the moment’, ‘the leap’ and ‘contemporaneity’. This Kierkegaardian critique is brought into conversation with current political science theories of religious nationalism, and is expanded to address movements and theologies beyond the historical context of Kierkegaard's Golden Age Denmark. The implications of Kierkegaard's approach are undoubtedly radical and unsettling to politicians and church leaders alike, yet there is much to commend it to the reality of modern religious and social life. As a theological thinker keenly aware of the unique problems posed by Christendom, Kierkegaard's critique is timely for any Christian culture that is tempted to confuse its faith with patriotism or national affiliation.
Keywords: Kierkegaard, nationalism, patriotism, Christian nationalism, religious nationalism, Christendom, authenticity, moment, leap, contemporaneity, Martensen, Grundtvig, Golden Age, Denmark
BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
Print publication date: 2011 Print ISBN-13: 9780199604722
Published to Oxford Scholarship Online: September 2011 DOI:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199604722.001.0001
Kierkegaard's Ethic of Love, C. Stephen Evans (2004)
===
Contents
1 Nationalism, Christianity and Kierkegaard
2 H. L. Martensen
3 N. F. S. Grundtvig
4 Philosophical Tools
5 History
6 Identity
7 Undefined New Things: Church and State
End Matter
Want to Read
Rate this book
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Kierkegaard's Critique of Christian Nationalism
by
Stephen Backhouse
4.56 · Rating details · 9 ratings · 4 reviews
'Christian nationalism' refers to the set of ideas in which belief in the development and superiority of one's national group is combined with, or underwritten by, Christian theology and practice. A critique of Christian nationalism is implicit throughout the thought of Soren Kierkegaard, an analysis inseparable from his wider aim of reintroducing Christianity into Christendom.
Stephen Backhouse examines the nationalist theologies of Kierkegaard's contemporaries H.L. Martensen and N.F.S. Grundtvig, to show how Kierkegaard's thought developed in response to the writings of these important cultural leaders of the day. Kierkegaard's response formed the backbone of his own philosophical and theological project, namely his attempt to form authentic Christian individuals through the use of 'the moment', 'the leap' and 'contemporaneity'.
This study brings Kierkegaard's critique of Christian nationalism into conversation with current political science theories of religious nationalism and reflects on the implications of Kierkegaard's radical approach. While the critique is unsettling to politicians and church leaders alike, nevertheless there is much to commend it to the reality of modern religious and social life. As a theological thinker keenly aware of the unique problems posed by Christendom, Kierkegaard's critique is timely for any Christian culture that is tempted to confuse its faith with patriotism or national affiliation. (less)
GET A COPYKobo
Online Stores ▾
Book Links ▾
Hardcover, 272 pages
Published September 2nd 2011 by Oxford University Press, USA (first published July 7th 2011)
ISBN
019960472X (ISBN13: 9780199604722)
Edition Language
English
COMMUNITY REVIEWS
Showing 1-34
Average rating4.56 ·
Rating details
· 9 ratings · 4 reviews
Mar 05, 2018Azzam To'meh rated it it was amazing
With the rise of religious nationalism, and the twenty-first century being called the century of religious conflict, the role of religious nationalism is on the rise. However, the emergence of this form of nationalism is not new and has been struggled with for ages now. In his book, Kierkegaard's Critique of Christian Nationalism, Stephen Backhouse attempts to explain the deconstruction of Kierkegaard to what is called Christian Nationalism. If religion is a personal relationship between one person and God, then to elevate such a relationship to a national level is bound to trump the emphasis on the individual and his relationship to the divine.
This, does not come in such a simple form though. The perception of historical development, the individual, free will, and Christianity per se are all warped into the construction of this Nationalism. Backhouse contextualizes Kierkegaard with two contemporary thinkers, H.L. Martensen, who believed that European triumph was indicative of the Christian truth, and N.F.S. Grundtvig, who thought of Danish triumph as the necessity for the rise of Christianity in the world. The intermingling of religion as state was seen as essential for both writers. This, of course, is evident nowadays In America's One Nation Under God, and Britain's God Save the Queen. The linking of the divine to the nation is ever more evident, and as such, is up to questioning.
So, what was Kierkegaard's response to all this. Backhouse states that Kierkegaard's vision of history attempts to grant the most importance to the present, as opposed to past and future. This goes against the tenant of Nationalism, the destiny of self-rule (or in this case, world and afterworld domination) which the nation is to actualize. It is an ideology which privileges past and future, as opposed to the past. However, Kierkegaard states that if Christ is the truth, then he is ever-present. For Christ, thus, there is no past and future, but only one time. Hence, if the nation is to actualize itself, it is to be through the present, and not through an outlook towards the future. This, of course, shows that Christianity is in direct conflict with a perennial essentialist understanding of nationalism, and claims that this nationalism can be overcome with proper relation to God. How generalizable this intimate relation to God is can be questioned however. If Le Bon's concept of the masses is to be applied, then Kierkegaard's request for the fully actualized personal relationship with God is to be rendered impossible. While it may have redemptive power, and allow for the resurrection of the individual, it is only he who is capable of becoming fully an individual that can benefit from this personal relationship. For the elite, there is God. For the masses, there is the nation.
Another point Kierkegaard highlights is an inherent contradiction in Christian nationalism. Religious nationalists claim that it is success which will prove the truth of the religion to the world. However, Kierkegaard states that the deepest meaning in Christianity is not success, but suffering. Hence, while the Christian nationalist think that they are bringing out the full actualization of Christianity, they are actually bringing about its demise. The church, for Kierkegaard, attempts to replace God as the absolute which needs all people to be directed towards. This, for Grundtvig, Kierkegaard's nemesis, can only happen through the building of the perfect state. Hence, one needs to be fully Danish in order to be fully Christian. Kierkegaard goes fully against that. If Christ is the atemporal truth, and one needs to be fully with truth, then one needs to get rid of all temporal accidents which taint his purity. Nationalism as such is a disease which prevents one from fully aligning him/herself with the truth. This, of course, is not limited to Christianity, but it endemic of most religions. Whether it is 9/11, the Burma massacres, or abortion clinic shootings, all religiously motivated political violence aims at the actualization of the dominance of the religion. In a society where the dominance hierarchy gets ever steeper, the role of the metaphysical in world domination will only increase.
Backhouse's book is important in addressing both a historical issue and a contemporary one. As a political theologian, he is the perfect individual to address the problems of religion and nationalism. Kierkegaard, as presented by Backhouse, seems suitable to treat all violence in the name of religion. However, the economic aspect of the nation is rarely dealt with in the book. Kierkegaard and his contemporaries seem to presume that all pursuits are value driven, and while the benefit of the doubt might be granted that this was the case, the rise of corporatism and its rule in evoking religion is on the rise. The book is beneficial for students of theology, politics, philosophy, and history. It is a great addition to any library of a humanities academic.
(less)
flag1 like · Like · comment · see review
Jan 30, 2022Ross Von Hausen rated it it was amazing
Shelves: kierkegaard
4.5 Stars
flag1 like · Like · comment · see review
Mar 01, 2014Fernando Navarro rated it liked it
I have a an excerpt that I think it would sum up the whole book:
"Every effort that tends toward the establishment of a Christian State, a Christian people, is eo ipso un-Christian, anti-Christian." Soren Kierkegaard (less)
flag1 like · Like · comment · see review
Feb 05, 2016Chet Duke rated it really liked it
Shelves: philosophy, theology, christian-history
Fantastic book that speaks to the depth of SK's criticism of Christian nationalism, specifically within his own Danish state church. Not only does Backhouse cover the ideas and theological positions of Grundtvig, Mynster, and Martensen (such information is largely unavailable to those that can't read Danish, as far as I know), but he also goes through the development Kierkegaard's orientation to the church. Backhouse also seemed to remain pretty straightforward in his interpretation of SK. Lots of good material in the bibliography.
Definitely valuable for students or anyone interested in issues of Christianity's relationship to the nation, patriotism, and identity. (less)
flagLike · comment · see review
Publication date 2011
Topics Kierkegaard, Søren, 1813-1855, Grundtvig, N. F. S. 1783-1872, Kierkegaard, Søren 1813-1855, Martensen, Hans Lassen 1808-1884, Grundtvig, Nikolai Frederik Severin, Martensen, Hans Lassen, Kierkegaard, Sören, Kierkegaard, Søren, Nationalism -- Religious aspects -- Christianity, Christentum, Nationalismus, Kirche, StaatPublisher Oxford ; New York : Oxford University PressCollection inlibrary; printdisabled; internetarchivebooksDigitizing sponsor The Arcadia FundContributor Internet ArchiveLanguage English
xv, 247 pages ; 24 cm
"This study brings Kierkegaard's critique of Christian nationalism into conversation with current political science theories of religious nationalism and reflects on the implications of Kierkegaard's radical approach. While the critique is unsettling to politicians and church leaders alike, nevertheless, there is much to commend it to the reality of modern religious and social life. As a theological thinker keenly aware of the unique problems posed by Christendom, Kierkegaard's critique is timely for any Christian culture that is tempted to confuse its faith with patriotism or national affiliation."--Jacket
Includes bibliographical references (pages 228-242) and index
xv, 247 pages ; 24 cm
"This study brings Kierkegaard's critique of Christian nationalism into conversation with current political science theories of religious nationalism and reflects on the implications of Kierkegaard's radical approach. While the critique is unsettling to politicians and church leaders alike, nevertheless, there is much to commend it to the reality of modern religious and social life. As a theological thinker keenly aware of the unique problems posed by Christendom, Kierkegaard's critique is timely for any Christian culture that is tempted to confuse its faith with patriotism or national affiliation."--Jacket
Includes bibliographical references (pages 228-242) and index
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