A study of Kierkegaard as a missionary and the possible applications in Japan

This thesis interprets four published works and unpublished works of Søren Kierkegaard (1813-55) from the perspective of Kierkegaard as a missionary and applies the Kierkegaardian mission to the Japanese context. I demonstrate that the interpretation that Kierkegaard was a missionary is a plausible reading of the authorship. I argue that such an interpretation originates from Kierkegaard’s authorial intent and God’s Governance. To carry out this task, I establish ‘an author-oriented method with a critical evaluation,’ and interpret his works by closely following this method. I argue that with Either/Or, Kierkegaard started his mission strategy with ‘paganism’ to attract many. From a strategic point of view, with Two Upbuilding Discourses (1843), Kierkegaard provides a less radical religious view that is palatable and digestible for the readers of Either/Or. Further, a sequential reading of Either/Or and Two Upbuilding Discourses (1843) reveals the nature of Kierkegaard’s dual authorship (pseudonymous and signed-religious works or indirect and direct communication) until 1848. Carefully avoiding any mention of ‘sin’ and ‘Christ’ in the early both pseudonymous and signed works, he finally declares ‘despair or sin’ in The Sickness unto Death and ‘Jesus Christ in his true form’ in Practice in Christianity. By doing this, he pushed the reader into a corner to choose between offence or faith in Christ. By studying The Point of View for My Work as an Author and Journals and Notebooks, I demonstrate that Kierkegaard recognised himself as a missionary writer and considered being a missionary an integral part of being a Christian. I also argue that Kierkegaard’s strategy can be identified as an incarnational mission that attempts to proclaim Jesus Christ after the manner that Jesus has done on the earth. I define Kierkegaard’s mission and apply the Kierkegaardian mission to a Japanese context