In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

vii acknowledgments this book is a result of the confluence of many lives commonly pursuing the joys of learning and friendship. i should first thank James loder, who introduced me to the thought of Kierkegaard and whose powerful influence on several generations of students and ministers at Princeton Theological Seminary continues to this day. my interest in Kierkegaard led me to Baylor university, in large part because of its 2012 vision that would attract two Kierkegaard scholars, robert roberts and Stephen evans. Their knowledge and especially their wisdom have been essential to my maturation as a philosopher and as a person. i am grateful also to margaret Watkins, michael foley, and John davenport, who made available to me their expertise. in 2005 and in 2010 i was privileged to receive summer fellowships from the hong Kierkegaard library at St. olaf College, and much of the work in this book was begun while at St. olaf, with the kind and generous support of gordon marino and Cynthia lund. Thanks also go to my colleagues in the Philosophy Program at the university of West georgia and to george Kieh, from whom i received a College of arts and Sciences faculty research grant that enabled further research. There are many others—graduate student colleagues at Baylor, commentators at conferences, West georgia undergraduates—whose interaction has in different ways contributed to the development of the ideas in this book. i am grateful in particular to my good friend Zach manis, who has over the years read earlier versions of chapters of the book and always offered thoughtful feedback. roberts Perkins, editor of the international Kierkegaard Commentary series from which some of the material in this book is reprinted, has served as a kind of mentor to me, as he has to so many young Kierkegaard scholars. Sylvia Walsh improved this manuscript first by pointing me to Kierkegaard’s lectures on communication and second, along with merold Westphal, by reviewing this manuscript for indiana. along with merold, both dee mortensen and Sarah Jacobi of indiana university Press have in a most competent and patient way guided me in the process of taking a manuscript and making a book. The broader story of my journey to Kierkegaard is the story of my life, and those positive influences are far too many to enumerate. let me briefly acknowledge my entire family, especially my parents, tom and alice, whose lives and words have edified me all along the way, and my wife, amy, who, like so many spouses, endured much trouble and inconvenience to see me flourish. She has been most supportive and gracious. finally, i would like to express gratitude to the editors and publishers who have granted permission to reprint in revised forms and portions the following articles and book chapters: viii | Acknowledgments “to Believe or not to Believe: toward a hermeneutic of trust,” in International Kierkegaard Commentary, vol. 22: The Point of View, ed. robert l. Perkins (macon, ga: mercer university Press, 2010), 78–103. “Kierkegaard and the Classical Virtue tradition,” Faith and Philosophy 27:2 (april 2010): 153–73. “indirect Communication, and the Special Case of Christian Communication,” in Kierkegaard and Christianity (acta Kierkegaardiana, vol. 3), ed. andrew Burgess, abraham Khan, roman Králik, Peter Šajda, and Jamie turnbull (toronto: university of toronto Press, 2008), 218–28. “What The Book on Adler Can teach about the author and the authorship,” in International Kierkegaard Commentary, vol. 24: The Book on Adler, ed. robert l. Perkins (macon, ga: mercer university Press, 2008), 97–120. ...

Share