Table Of ContentKierkegaard and
the New Nationalism
New Kierkegaard Research
Antony Aumann, Northern Michigan University,
and Adam Buben, Leiden University
Advisory Board: John J. Davenport, Fordham University;
Rick Anthony Furtak, Colorado College;
Sheridan Hough, College of Charleston; Noreen Khawaja, Yale University;
Sharon Krishek, Hebrew University of Jerusalem;
John Lippitt, University of Notre Dame Australia;
Jon Stewart, Slovak Academy of Sciences; Patrick Stokes, Deakin University
New Kierkegaard Research promotes scholarship on all aspects of Kierkeg-
aard’s thought and its legacy. The series includes volumes dedicated to the
careful exegesis of Kierkegaard’s writings, as well as ones that bring his ideas
into dialogue with other thinkers. It also serves as an outlet for books draw-
ing inspiration from Kierkegaard to address current questions in philosophy,
religion, and other disciplines.
New Kierkegaard Research is pluralistic in nature. It welcomes proposals
from scholars approaching Kierkegaard from either analytic or continental
philosophical backgrounds, as well as from those adopting historical, con-
temporary, or comparative frameworks. Emphasis is placed on philosophical
engagement with Kierkegaard’s ideas, but the series publishes books by au-
thors working in a variety of academic fields.
Titles in the series
Kierkegaard and the New Nationalism: A Contemporary Reinterpretation of
the Attack upon Christendom, by Thomas J. Millay
Ethical Silence: Kierkegaard on Communication, Education, and Humility,
by Sergia Hay
Kierkegaard and
the New Nationalism
A Contemporary Reinterpretation
of the Attack upon Christendom
Thomas J. Millay
LEXINGTON BOOKS
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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Information Available
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Millay, Thomas J., author.
Title: Kierkegaard and the new nationalism : a contemporary
reinterpretation of the attack upon Christendom / Thomas J. Millay.
Description: Lanham : Lexington Books, [2021] | Series: New Kierkegaard
research | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Summary:
“Kierkegaard and the New Nationalism argues for the relevance of
Kierkegaard’s “attack upon Christendom” within our current situation of
resurgent nationalism. Kierkegaard’s ascetic voice calls his readers not
simply to critique nationalism, but to renounce it, thereby striking at
nationalism’s self-assertive core”— Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021044291 (print) | LCCN 2021044292 (ebook) | ISBN
9781793640338 (cloth) | ISBN 9781793640345 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Kierkegaard, Søren, 1813-1855. | Nationalism. |
Kierkegaard, Søren, 1813-1855. Indøvelse i Christendom.
Classification: LCC B4377 .M49 2021 (print) | LCC B4377 (ebook) | DDC
198/.9 —dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021044291
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021044292
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of
American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper
for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.
To: The Millay Men Book Club
. . . a sign of hope in troubled times . . .
Contents
Preface ix
Acknowledgments xvii
Abbreviations xix
1 The Attack: History and Context 1
2 Concepts: The Truth-Witness, New Testament Christianity,
and Denmark 55
3 An Evolving Martyrdom 69
4 Asceticism in the Streets 89
5 Kierkegaard’s Critique of Nationalism Reconsidered 103
6 Some Perspectives on Destruction: Kierkegaard, Cone, and
Third World Theology 123
Conclusion: The Attack as a Work of Love: Kierkegaard and
Contemporary Political Theology 141
Bibliography 155
Index 161
About the Author 165
vii
Preface
In the fall of 2017, I found myself walking toward an AAR (American Acad-
emy of Religion) seminar room. I was filled with a greater than ordinary
sense of anticipation. I am a lover of all things Kierkegaard, but especially
of his late and last writings. Much of the scholarship on Kierkegaard focuses
on his earlier works: Fear and Trembling (1843), Philosophical Fragments
(1844), Concluding Unscientific Postscript (1846)—everything up to and
including his Works of Love (1848). Yet this AAR session was titled “Ki-
erkegaard’s Attack upon Christendom: Then and Now.” The “attack upon
Christendom” is the label typically given to Kierkegaard’s final outburst of
publications (1854–1855), which take aim at the Danish society of his age in
way that is often both harsh and hilarious. Finally, I thought, here is a slice of
scholarship which will be focused on these writings I love.
I arrived early to the seminar room, made myself a coffee out in the hallway,
and settled into my seat, making sure to have pen and paper ready. The ses-
sion commenced. As the presenters made their observations and arguments,
I noticed something strange happening. To a person, none of the participants
discussed Kierkegaard’s attack upon Christendom at all. Each took “attack”
in a kind of allegorical sense, referring to Kierkegaard’s critique of various
aspects of Christian culture, whether that be social conformity, hypocrisy,
or other such vices. The papers were highly accomplished and interesting in
their own right. But I couldn’t help feeling a little puzzled.
Eventually I raised my hand and asked about this curious absence: Why,
in a session on “The Attack upon Christendom,” was there no discussion of
Kierkegaard’s attack upon Christendom? The answers were revealing. At the
risk of misrepresenting the panelists, I believe their responses to my question
can be adequately summarized as follows: “We are interested in a Kierkeg-
aard who is still relevant as a contemporary theological resource. Yet the late
ix
