Roberto Garaventa

The main purpose of Kierkegaard’s work is a communicative one: introducing again Christianity into a Christendom that has completely forgotten what it means to be a Christian. However, this task is not easy. Communicating Christianity is difficult because the object of communication is a paradoxical truth: God has become a man. Secondly, it is difficult because the incarnation of God needs a condition in order to be accepted. Then, because the consequence of accepting this paradox by faith is an existential conversion. The difficulties in communicating Christianity however do not concern only the content, but also the most appropriate way to communicate it. Indeed, the tensions that characterize Kierkegaard’s thoughts arise especially when the Philosopher resorts to the combination of direct and indirect communication. In the end Kierkegaard decides to address Christianity itself in a provocative way, clear and direct, disavowing his previous Socratic tactic. Yet he shows deep variations not only in the way of communicating, but also in his conception of «being Christian». If in some texts the man of faith is someone whotrusts in a providential and merciful God, and lives every day joyfully without being overwhelmed by bourgeois cares for tomorrow, in the last works Christianity is exclusively suffering and martyrdom. Keywords: Christianity, communication, paradox, faith, Christian life