Soren Kierkegaard: Seeking Wisdom Through Parables

Soren Kierkegaard: Seeking Wisdom Through Parables
In Kierkegaard’s parable, a wicked man prays that his ship won’t sink, leading a wise man to caution, “Keep quiet, my friend; if heaven discovers that you are on board, the ship will go under.” “An American Ship in Distress,” 1841, by Thomas Birch. Timken Museum of Art. Public domain
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Depending on who you ask, the present age seems to be one in which we’re either struggling up a mountain toward utopia or running off a cliff. Many of those who hold the latter view feel they have little control over the state of things, despite their best efforts to steer hearts and minds toward green pastures.

A parable by the Danish writer Soren Kierkegaard encapsulates this struggle:

Andrew Benson Brown
Andrew Benson Brown
Author
Andrew Benson Brown is a Missouri-based poet, journalist, and writing coach. He is an editor at Bard Owl Publishing and Communications and the author of “Legends of Liberty,” an epic poem about the American Revolution. For more information, visit Apollogist.wordpress.com.
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