Fortress Press

"One-hundred and seventy years ago, Søren Kierkegaard gifted Denmark’s Christendom with Sickness unto Death, a penetrating analysis of the passions and pitfalls of living before God. Today, Paul Sponheim gifts both newcomers and experienced scholars with an equally incisive analysis of Kierkegaard’s book and the living legacy of his penetrating theology. Together, Kierkegaard and Sponheim beckon us toward the passionate venture that is human existence. Existing Before God is an incredibly helpful, wise, and hope-filled book."

"Drawing on nearly seven decades of encountering Kierkegaard and his writings, Paul Sponheim here makes a major contribution to Kierkegaard scholarship by introducing this one whose works are at once broad-ranging and profound. Wisdom comes to us both from the one who was addressing the “single individual” from Copenhagen in Denmark’s Golden Age mid-19th century as well as from the one who is interpreting him for our time by making connections to contemporary figures and concerns. Readers are invited to appreciate the Danish genius as a theological thinker. Focusing especially on The Sickness unto Death, our reflection is directed to the human creature, who, though separated from God by an infinite qualitative difference, is able through faith to come to rest transparently in the divine Power. Sponheim’s book will serve for many as an inspiring portal into further engagement with this passionate writer who delved so deeply into human existence."

"With erudition and grace, Existing before God leads us into an exciting encounter with Kierkegaard, his legacy, and the invitation his texts provide for contemplating what it means to be 'grounded transparently in God.'"

"In this little book, Sponheim has located Kierkegaard’s most important book in a rich context of the author’s life and work, drawn out his important contributions to theological and philosophical thought, illuminated the constructive potential of his thought for the contemporary context, and traced the lineage of his contributions from their modest beginnings to their global importance. It’s a valuable tool for the beginning or intermediate scholar, a rich source of possibilities for further research and imaginative development. College and graduate students in philosophy and religion can return to it again and again for new insight and inspiration."