Kim Monson's Quote of the Day:
March 4, 2024

Søren Kierkegaard, born on May 5, 1813, in Copenhagen, Denmark, is widely regarded as the father of existentialism. A philosopher, theologian, poet, social critic, and religious author, Kierkegaard’s work primarily focuses on the individual’s complex relationship with themselves and with God. Unlike many of his contemporaries who were preoccupied with the abstract and the universal, Kierkegaard emphasized personal experience and choice, arguing that true understanding comes from navigating one’s own existence and making authentic choices. His writings explore themes such as faith, ethics, despair, and the concept of the “leap of faith,” a term he coined to describe the act of believing in something inherently unknowable, such as the existence of God. Kierkegaard’s critique of the established church and his emphasis on individual responsibility and inward reflection have had a profound influence on both religious and existential thought, impacting philosophers, theologians, and writers long after his death on November 11, 1855.