The Bible and Western Culture - Kierkegaard's Leap of Faith 

It saddened me tremenduously to find out that Dr. Sugrue left us. Nevertheless, he will always be remembered through his high quality work.

Kierkegaard is my Spirit Animal.

I'm always looking for new interesting lectures on Psychology/Philosophy, please let me know if you guys have any recommendations, would be highly appreciated

Thanks to God, my life finally makes sense, but also, thanks to God, my life makes no sense. But I made my choice. Down the rabbit hole, etc.

In the "Either" he strongly critizes the life of the Sensuous Man, or Aesthetic Man. Does he give equal treatment to the moral licentiousness and necrophilia of the Religous Man?

"People who do not know how to remain silent, do not know how to talk" What a tremendous quote. Great lecture.

0:21 Who Was Soren Kierkegaard? 2:28 Manifesting Psychic Difficulties 3:32 Pseudonyms Kierkegaard wrote under, plus he gave himself bad reviews. 5:26 Chose to Wander Alone 6:33 An Individual At All Costs. 9:30 Faith Has No Justificiation "Man Proposes, God Disposes" You will not add and subtract your way to God. 12:30 Is our Conscious our standard to Judge the Bible? 13:45 Abraham and Issac 15:44 There is No Rational Justification of Faithful Actions 16:21 BINARY OPPOSITION: YOU CAN HAVE A OR B, No AB BA 17:08 A Leap of Faith, Criteraless 18:50 Wander into Despair or Walk With God. 20:26 Fragments, going on and on and on Irony Layered Upon Irony 21:47 The Meno, Reminder, Revelation 23:38 _The Present Age_ 25:09 25:39 Athens was a mistake 26:29 Resentment, Hatred, Envy 27:36 Gossip About NOTHING 27:58 "People that do not know how to remain silent, do not know how to talk." 28:24 29:56 Tortured Individual embodying Job 30:12 “All Theology is Blasphemy” 31:07 Take whatever God dishes out, he does not want your advice. 32:18 Self-Sacrifice for Faith. 33:07 You must Choose 33:27 Kierkegaard vs Martin Luther, The Truly Righteous Man Unifies Work and Faith. 34:51 A Mediation on Faith 36:00 Confront Your Own Soul, 37:34 “Being a Christian is not an Event, it is a Process.” _Parable of The Rich Young Man_ 38:24 The Theological Joker, The Wise Fool 40:11 Disarming in Irony and Candor 40:52 20th Century Atheistic Existentialism 41:39 Comedy and Christianity 🎭 ✝️ 42:23 “Melancholy Men Have The Best Sense of Humor.”

"Kierkegaard is a theologian with the soul of a poet and the analytical abilities of a philosopher."

I am so thankful for the work of Dr Sugrue and for these lectures being available online. Thank you for posting this.

This channel is criminally underrated! Dr Sugrue's lectures on philosophy are the best available online, and believe me, I've perused the philosophy lectures from nearly all of the major universities and professors of philosophy who post content online, even subscribing to some 3rd party learning platforms to try and educate myself (not to mention spending over a grand on philosophy books). I've watched most of the "independent content creators" who cover this type of material on YT & it breaks my heart how often the views of these great thinkers are misinterpreted & misrepresented. Fingers crossed one day I get to go back to college and actually earn a degree , and when I do I genuinely hope my professor is half as good as Dr. Sugrue is)

I listened to this lecture more times that I can count on cassette back in the 90's. Glad you published them for all of us.

"Are you willing to go beyond the domain of MERE rationality?" That's such a good quote. Rationality is not the basis of all things.

Professor Sugrue, it's hard to express how insightful and useful these lectures are!! Your mastery over the language, ideas and culture are truly astonishing. Thank you.

Awww Kierkegaard... this the one I’ve been waiting for 😄👍🏻👍🏻✌🏼

“The idea of killing your son.....most immoral” another amazing lecture.

This is gold. English is not my first language, but I can understand Dr. Sugrue´s every single word.

This is an incredible insight into Kierkegaard. I would never have deciphered him this well on my own.

What a crazy legend this Kierkegaard was...

Rest in Peace Dr. Sugrue, thank you for your intellect and passion.

This is my favorite one!

What a FASCINATING lecture! 😃 I kept trying to turn this off because I have work to do! However, I couldn't do it!😅 Thanks for sharing this. I really enjoy Dr.Sugrue's delivery; SO engaging!🧑🏻‍🦱👍🏽

The _ultimate_ leap of faith-radical freedom: “As Hegel put it, what dies on the Cross is NOT the human incarnation of the transcendent God, but the God of Beyond Himself. Through Christ’s sacrifice, God Himself is no longer beyond, but passes into the Holy Spirit (of the religious community) [...] God is no longer the substantial master up there, God is - to put it in this way - the spirit of our community, the gift of freedom.” -Zizek

Johann Georg Hamann was a big influence on Kierkegaard and his anti-enlightenment stance. Hamann even influenced Kierkegaard's use of pseudonyms in his work

Its just so wonderful the way you inhabited each character when you did this and Nietzsche and others...it is so edifying...thankyou so much

Kierkegaard is a profound literary talent . One of the greatest ironist to have blessed the sacred page 🙏

What a great lecturer @Sugrue is. I forget everything around me while listening to this man. Every word, every sentence and the tone of Dr. Sugrue echoes in my brain. Lots of love.

The aesthetic reading of the Bible, well that’s going to be thought for Peterson..

Best content on RU-vid. What a gift you and this channel are Dr. Sugrue!

It is amazing to be able to watch and learn from these lectures - what a gift. Thank you so much for making them available, they are truly incredible. So much to learn!

I really appreciate your work. Ive actually used your lecture on marcus arelius while studying philosophy with my son.

Dr. Sugrue, you are the best orator and professor I've ever attended to! Love from India❤

Thank you Dr. Sugrue for sharing your briliant lectures. As a philosophy major these have not only been helpful in my studies but have futhered my love of wisdom.

24:38 Rick Roderick echoes Kierkegaard here in his oeuvre, _The Self Under Siege._ That the failure of Orwell’s vision of a boot stomping on a human face forever is in the idea that there very well may not even be human faces as such in the future-that the self faces being extinguished in the Nietzschean “last man” and his slavish, narrow cosmos of nihilistic morbidity.

33:25 This is my only criticism and it has to do with Kierkegaard's perspective on the issue of Sola Fide (Justification by Faith Alone). In "For Self-Examination", one of Kierkegaard's "purely" religious works, makes his respect for Luther quite clear and shows a nuance in his pattern of thought. "Infinite humiliation and grace, and then a striving born of gratitude--that is Christianity." The ideal, that is, Christ, must not be watered down in the slightest, it is a biting indictment of the whole world, you must not sugar-coat it or weaken the dosage of the medicine in front of you. But then you should stop, and realizing the magnitude of the ideal, stand humiliated. It is then, once you have realized this insurmountable ideal you can't achieve and stand humiliated in front of it, then you receive grace (justification), and *as a result* (for Kierkegaard believed human works were like filthy rags, they couldn't justify you in the slightest) people strive for the ideal out of gratitude, not to merit or earn justification. As Kierkegaard himself put it (I believe in "Purity of Heart" though I could be mistaken), his works did not put him one inch closer to the Absolute, but rather made him realize more and more how much he was distant from the ideal. Kierkegaard was moreso criticizing the idea of faith as an intellectual idea that had no suffering to it, and even used Luther as an example of someone who actually had faith and how much it pained him. In a word, faith that obeys the command. "By faith Abraham..." offered up his son Isaac, that proved Abraham had justifying faith, but the work itself didn't justify Abraham. But this is more of a categorical distinction, Kierkegaard is certainly very rigorous to his approach of works and his emphasis on them is bespoke in For Self-Examination as well as Judge For Yourself.

Kierkegaard=Fun. Only Professor Sugrue could get this idea across in spades.

27:32 - Wow! Kierkegaard predicted Facebook and Twitter!

this guys ability to discuss so many topics in such an eloquent and well understood way is so impressive

I loved this lecture but do find it bias. The lecturer doesn't like Kierkegaard and almost mocks him slightly, such as saying it was the best thing he ever did for his partner to leave her. I can understand his perspectives and indeed the bewilderment of some of Kierkegaard's behaviours perhaps but, I think that doesn't do him justice. It's ironic because Kierkegaard didn't want 'just what makes sense', but Kierkegaard makes such sense to me.

I found these lectures at a time in life I needed them, and was ready for them.. Thank you, universe.

10:47 *Kierkegaardian leap of faith* “One of the things that is wrong with this age is that it lacks faith. It not only lacks faith but it lacks even passion and passion is a necessary precondition for faith. You rational people-people with the souls of accountants I’m afraid are trying to add up and subtract your way to God and that is not how you will do it. You will do it only by making a leap of faith, by taking a chance.”

"Melancholy men have the best sense of humor"

Stilted, artificial, and unctuous, but nevertheless comical because he can’t keep it up and continually lapses.

“You shall not judge the lord, your God…. He doesn’t want you advice.” Brilliant.

Was it Kierkegaard or Dick Van Patton who said, "If you label me, you negate me."

Kierkegaard would detest atheistic existentialism

This Sugrue guy seems pretty good at what he does.

2:48 “Truth _is_ subjectivity.” Which _is_ ex-centric according to psychoanalysis.

Faith is something I am not capable of understanding

Excellent Mr. Sugrue. Thank you for sharing the video. I finally put to use the set speed feature, 0.75 works perfect for me.

Kierkegaard was "That Individual."

To believe that within the multi-verse, there is a world in which Nietzsche responded to Kierkegaard. Imagine the written correspondence between the two, either in letters or books. How fruitful Western philosophy would’ve been if these two men were given a chance to have discourse

Arete.

Just as Hume in the first part of his Treatise on Human Nature uses his incredible reason to argue the impotence of reason, Kierkegaard uses his incredible mind and reason to argue the impotence if reason. Neither understood that God gave us reason to make our lives better and navigate all the exigencies and benefits of life.

I wonder what Kierkegaard would retort to "Abraham reasoned" that God could raise the dead when sacrificing Isaac. Hebrews 11:19 shows a fusion of faith and reason that Kierkegaard seems to loathe.

The Crisis of Faith - life tends to present itself as a series of unfolding morally ambiguous problems. Problems which the right path to take isn’t wholly understood. Problems where you must roll the dice & take your best chance. Without this you stand no chance to the inevitable. Without this you cease to influence beyond that which you could control. “He who loved himself became great in himself, and he who loved others became great through his devotion, but he who loved God became greater than all”.

I recently learned that it is actually impossible to think both rationally and empatheticly simaltaenously because the brain has to suppress one in order to activate the other. There was a recent study that showed this I don't remember what it was called though. So what he was saying about choosing one or the other is true but only in a transitory sense. Imo you need to rationalize in certain instances and empathize in other. As always it's a matter of harmony not an either or mentality.

This is so far the best video about philosophy I have ever had!

I have learned more from Dr. Sugrue than any lecturer of philosophy. He is a gift to humanity. So glad he was recorded for posterity.

Now I can read Soren Kierkegaard

THANK YOU!!!!

If choosing ethics or aesthetics is a choice between red and black at the roulette wheel, then choosing a particular religion is like choosing a particular number at the roulette wheel.

thank you so much for these fantastic lectures. such a stark contrast to German law school ones and both highly informative and entertaining.

So all of us have to walk up the mountain, as individuals, and decide if we want to sacrifice Isaac or not? Well, shit.

This is tremendous. So right for me right now. I see Kierkergaard as more of a prophet to me and this present age. Athens or Jerusalem.

I can't believe how much fun I enjoyed all the way till the end. Another great presentation!!

14:20 - it’s telling that the childless virgin Kierkegaard thought the Abraham story is something to be admired.

22:07 Philosophical fragments 23:51 The present Age 30:10 edifying discourses

Why do all these philosopher dudes hate thinking about stuff so much and want us all to just follow inspiration/whims? Its like meeting a plumber who thinks pipes are overrated and carrying buckets are where it is at. Also Kierky sounds like some annoying Hipster, someone should have told him that god is dead.

Another amazing lecture- thank you for your postings of these amazing gifts.

He got the wrong profession as a professor. He ought to be a Pastor.

This is unspeakably edifying. Long live Dr Sugrue

Many the evil Christian rejoices in the hatreds of the unconscious God. Yaldabaoth is not aware how evil he is, but during his tormenting of job he got some idea of the beast he is. However, might makes right, eh?

I am in the process of watching all of Michael's lectures. I am in aww. Michael is so well spoken, I have learned so much. Thank you for posting these!

27:58 note to self

Great video! Question: So Kierkegaard tries to convince us that he did not make his decision to put all his trust in faith on the basis of what he presupposes?

Rest in Peace Prof.

Thank you for uploading this narrative of the Western civilization.

this guy is fabulous! wished i had a philosophy teacher like him in my college days, instead on the duds i had.

Was it done before a live audience? I enjoy his style of presentation.

Rodriguez Michael Allen Lisa Martin Carol

That set is nearly as good as the current President's stage set.

Kierkegaard why he dont need to become a missionary oof how so relevant today.

Miller Kenneth Lopez Mary Garcia Susan

Brown Sandra Taylor Scott Lewis Jessica

Impressive lecture professor most impressive!

Being a loner is a luxury. It's my poverty that points to God's design of interdependence. I loved being a hermit though. Made it last about 5yrs before I was pulled-back in...covid did it.

Are you willing to go beyond the domain of meer rationality

Soren Kierkegaard: That Guy.

People should not teach philosophers that they have contempt for

Wish this man had lectured on Jung

Does anyone know the date of this recording? It’s clearly timeless but I’m just curious watching in November 2022.

The source of the world's problems.

I cannot get enough of these Lectures!

Thank you for this recording! My questions are, what is Kierkegaard's most pantheistic fruition movement he campaigned for? Must one always have leaps of faith to be a Nietzsche-inspired believer? Why are leaps of faith considered necessary to retain civil liberties and democracy? What is the most theistic form of computation-inspired philosophies according to Kierkegaard? Why are the fruits of faith considered superior to the fruits of mere justified belief? Did Kierkegaard believe Nietzsche's Super-Human philosophy ought to be the bedrock of fruition of idealism? What does it take to transcend post-post modernist regalia according to Kierkegaard? What is the sacrosanct torpidity of the geometries of idealistic labour according to a Marxist-Leninist reading of Kierkegaard? Finally, did Kierkegaard ever reject leaps of faith and instead embraced logical positivist dogmas? Did Kierkegaard consider himself a noble chariot of impressionistic idealism?

[27:50] Timestamp to self; tomme gryter bråker mest! People who don't know how to remain silent, don't know how to talk

Kierkegaard sucks beyond belief. I once I had a friend "pasture," who was a great fan of KGard, and Pasture S was the most depressing man alive. I hope he has found his grave for he seemed to think it was the ideal place to live.

A wandering rhino? Didn't he mean "wino?"

Kierkegaard is just too much...desperately fanatic...loyal to the God. But unfortunately intelligent.

Judgement and advice being synonymous and implying that God doesn't want advice is troublesome, it's tantamount to speaking that there is no speech occurring, it's a sort of oxymoron of sensibility

This is a great lecture! ❤