Nothing filtered Kierkegaard’s ire against institutional Christianity as he neared the end of his life. He compared its defenders to a deceptive guild of swindlers and counterfeiters, surpassing even Judas in their betrayal; after all, Judas “did not have himself honored and praised, almost worshiped and adored, as a true adherent of Christ.” He compared its leaders to an evil cabal worse than cannibals: “The cannibal eats his enemies. Quite differently the ‘priest.’ He makes a show of being devoted to the highest degree to the man whom he eats.” Such savage imagery extends mercilessly for hundreds of pages. This is Kierkegaard at his most provocative, and most convicting.

Kierkegaard lived in a country where the official state church integrated itself with civil society and legislative norms. The political system reinforced this institutionalized religion through measures such as compulsory baptisms and church taxes, resulting in a default religious citizenry.

Kierkegaard believed this kind of “Christendom” contradicted the role faith should occupy in the world.