Abstract

I object to Merold Westphal’s characterization in Kierkegaard’s Concept of Faith (2014) of faith as “against reason.” I argue that Kierkegaard scholars emphasize the tension between faith and reason more than Kierkegaard does, affirming and perpetuating a broader antagonism in our own cultural climate. I suggest that the view of faith as transforming vision” developed by M. Jamie Ferreira and others makes better sense of the different facets of faith in Kierkegaard and the strengths of Westphal's account (especially faith as a passion) while avoiding conceptual and practical problems with the "faith vs. reason" model.