Overview
An examination of the theology of Søren Kierkegaard considering both his account of the individual before God and his profound critiques of Christendom, the Church, and modern culture.
Brilliant, profound, hilarious and melancholy: all of these are apt descriptions of Søren Kierkegaard, one of the great minds of the Christian theological tradition. The study of his work will require you to engage with the deepest questions of human existence, to wrestle with his profound analysis of modern Western culture, and to reckon with his brilliant account of the offensiveness and of the deep truth of the Christian gospel.
About this paper
| Paper title | The Theology of Søren Kierkegaard (Advanced) |
|---|---|
| Subject | Christian Thought and History |
| EFTS | 0.1667 |
| Points | 20 points |
| Teaching period | Not offered in 2024, expected to be offered in 2026 (Distance learning) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $1,240.75 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- One 300-level CHTH or CHTX paper
- Restriction
- CHTH 314, CHTX 314, CHTX 414
- Notes
- May not be credited together with CHTH313 or CHTH411 passed in 2005 or CHTH316 or CHTH430 passed in 2009 or CHTH316 or CHTH412 passed in 2011.
- Eligibility
- Any student can study Theology, whether they are of the Christian faith, another faith or of no religious faith at all. Theology is an examination of the scriptures, history, content and relevance of the Christian faith, but it presupposes or requires no Christian commitment from students. All it requires is an inquiring mind and an interest in those skills that can be gained through the study of any subject in the Humanities.
- Contact
- Professor Murray Rae: murray.rae@otago.ac.nz
- More information link
View more information on the Theology Programme’s website
- Teaching staff
- Professor Murray Rae
- Paper Structure
- Following introductory classes, which will provide an overview of Kierkegaard's life and context, the paper will consist of a study of three of Kierkegaard's greatest works: Philosophical Fragments; Fear and Trembling; and Sickness Unto Death.
Assessment:- 1,800-word essay (20%)
- Seminar presentation (10%)
- 2,500-word essay (30%)
- Two-hour exam (40%)
- Teaching Arrangements
Campus: Thirteen 2-hour lectures. Recordings will be available on Blackboard for students who cannot attend live.
Distance: Thirteen 2-hour lectures. Recordings will be available on Blackboard for students who cannot attend live.- Textbooks
Required:
Fear and Trembling and Repetition, ed. and trans. Howard V. Hong and Edna H. Hong (Princeton: Princeton University Press 1983)
Philosophical Fragments and Johannes Climacus, ed. and trans. Howard V. Hong and Edna H. Hong (Princeton: Princeton University Press 1985)
The Sickness Unto Death, ed. and trans. Howard V. Hong and Edna H. Hong (Princeton: Princeton University Press 1980)- Course outline
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Ethics.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the paper will have:
- Developed a sound understanding of the contours of modernity
- Knowledge of the key aspects of Kierkegaard's critique of modernity
- Developed insight into Kierkegaard's conception of the Christian faith
- Developed their skills in research and oral communication
Timetable
Overview
An examination of the theology of Søren Kierkegaard considering both his account of the individual before God and his profound critiques of Christendom, the Church, and modern culture.
Brilliant, profound, hilarious and melancholy: all of these are apt descriptions of Søren Kierkegaard, one of the great minds of the Christian theological tradition. The study of his work will require you to engage with the deepest questions of human existence, to wrestle with his profound analysis of modern Western culture, and to reckon with his brilliant account of the offensiveness and of the deep truth of the Christian gospel.
About this paper
| Paper title | The Theology of Søren Kierkegaard (Advanced) |
|---|---|
| Subject | Christian Thought and History |
| EFTS | 0.1667 |
| Points | 20 points |
| Teaching period | Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 (Distance learning) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for 2025 have not yet been set |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- One 300-level CHTH or CHTX paper
- Restriction
- CHTH 314, CHTX 314, CHTX 414
- Notes
- May not be credited together with CHTH313 or CHTH411 passed in 2005 or CHTH316 or CHTH430 passed in 2009 or CHTH316 or CHTH412 passed in 2011.
- Eligibility
- Any student can study Theology, whether they are of the Christian faith, another faith or of no religious faith at all. Theology is an examination of the scriptures, history, content and relevance of the Christian faith, but it presupposes or requires no Christian commitment from students. All it requires is an inquiring mind and an interest in those skills that can be gained through the study of any subject in the Humanities.
- Contact
- Professor Murray Rae: murray.rae@otago.ac.nz
- More information link
View more information on the Theology Programme’s website
- Teaching staff
- Professor Murray Rae
- Paper Structure
Following introductory classes, which will provide an overview of Kierkegaard's life and context, the paper will consist of a study of three of Kierkegaard's greatest works: Philosophical Fragments; Fear and Trembling; and Sickness Unto Death.
- Teaching Arrangements
Campus: Thirteen 2-hour lectures. Recordings will be available on Blackboard for students who cannot attend live.
Distance: Thirteen 2-hour lectures. Recordings will be available on Blackboard for students who cannot attend live.- Textbooks
Required:
Fear and Trembling and Repetition, ed. and trans. Howard V. Hong and Edna H. Hong (Princeton: Princeton University Press 1983)
Philosophical Fragments and Johannes Climacus, ed. and trans. Howard V. Hong and Edna H. Hong (Princeton: Princeton University Press 1985)
The Sickness Unto Death, ed. and trans. Howard V. Hong and Edna H. Hong (Princeton: Princeton University Press 1980)- Course outline
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Ethics.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the paper will have:
- Developed a sound understanding of the contours of modernity
- Knowledge of the key aspects of Kierkegaard's critique of modernity
- Developed insight into Kierkegaard's conception of the Christian faith
- Developed their skills in research and oral communication
- Assessment details
- 1,800-word essay (20%)
- Seminar presentation (10%)
- 2,500-word essay (30%)
- Two-hour exam (40%)