SKC Workshop Autumn 2025

Necip Uyanık

(Mardin Artuklu University, Turkey)

Analysing Kierkegaard’s Criticism of the Denmark Folk Church in the Context of Popular Perception of Religion

The presentation will analyze the popular perception of religion from an existential perspective. In this context, the original value in question will be supported by Kierkegaard’s criticism of the Danish National Church. In this context, the objections made by Kierkegaard to the religious understanding in Denmark are aimed at analyzing the popular perception of religion. Kierkegaard’s criticisms of the Church can be gathered in three stages: The first is that the historical mission of the Church has adopted a widespread understanding of religion, the second is that the Church wants to give a mass direction to religion by using the power of the concept of the people. The third is that the Church has served the popular perception of religion under the claims of rational theology. In light of the obtained input, Kierkegaardian criticisms of the historical mission of the Danish National Church, the concept of the people, and the relationship of rational theology with the popular perception of religion will be discussed. The evaluation of the popular perception of religion from the perspective of an existential philosopher Kierkegaard is related to the fact that it has adopted a goal regarding what should be at the center of the discussion on whether religion or religious life should be individual or mass. In the discussions on religion, the increase or abundance of people who belong to any religion has caused a belief that religion is strong and true. Accordingly, the religious belief that is widely accepted in society is also thought to be effective and strong. On the other hand, it should be noted that some criticisms and objections expressing religion or faith through numerical output are contrary to the reality of faith itself. Because a truth must be superior in number to be valid is a questionable perspective. The popular perception of religion corresponds to the numerical superiority of religion and its prevalence in society. What is emphasized here is not religion, but the prevalence of religion and its support based on the majority in society.