Book: Attack upon "Christendom" by Søren Kierkegaard

This episode is about Søren Kierkegaard’s final, provocative literary campaign against the religious establishment of 19th-century Denmark, specifically through his work Attack upon "Christendom." This collection of late writings and journal entries captures Kierkegaard’s intense moral obligation to voice a message he felt was essential for his spiritual integrity, even as it targeted the very institutional Church he had belonged to his entire life. Translator Walter Lowrie and scholar Howard A. Johnson offer critical context, explaining that this polemic was intended as a corrective to a society where being "Christian" had become a cultural formality rather than a demanding personal discipleship. Despite the harshness of his satire and diatribes against the clergy, the introductions clarify that Kierkegaard’s goal was not to destroy the Church’s doctrine but to expose the mediocrity and hypocrisy of a state-controlled religious system. While his actions appeared eccentric or anti-clerical, they were the consistent conclusion of a life dedicated to uncovering the true requirements of the New Testament. Ultimately, the episode presents a portrait of a writer who, despite personal hesitations, felt compelled by his conscience to challenge the spiritual complacency of his era.