[From Kierkegaard]: 'I never believed in God before.' - that I understand. But not: 'I never really believed in Him before.' (p. 53e)
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Understanding a shift in faith is different from claiming a deeper intensity of prior belief.
- In plain terms
- It makes sense to say you never believed, but not that you didn't really believe.
- What can you take from it?
- Distinguish between believing and the intensity of belief.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Can you separate belief from the feeling of belief?
Another view
People often feel their faith deepens over time even if it existed before.
More from Ludwig Wittgenstein
Wisdom is passionless. But faith by contrast is what Kierkegaard calls a passion. (p. 53e)
Permalink to quote #85 Don't for heaven's sake, be afraid of talking nonsense! But you must pay attention to your nonsense. (p. 56e)
Permalink to quote #87 A man will be imprisoned in a room with a door that's unlocked and opens inwards; as long as it does not occur to him to pull rather than push it. (p. 42e)
Permalink to quote #84
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