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Good point!

Soren Aabye Kierkegaard (the “o” is written with a slash “/” through it) is considered the father of the philosophical movement called existentialism.

With a doubt, Nietzsche read Kierkegaard, but was he inspired?

Did he learn anything about the Christian faith from Same?

Of course, both Nietzsche’s Father and Grandfathers were Christian Pastors!

Ahem:

There is so much said now about people being offended at Christianity because it is so dark and gloomy. But the real reason why man is offended at Christianity is that it would make of a man something so extraordinary that he is unable to get it into his head.

Kierkegaard addressed this fear:

Imagine the mightiest Emperor that ever lived; and imagine some poor peasant, who would think himself fortunate if he could but once catch a glimpse of the Emperor, and would tell his children and grandchildren of this as the most important event of his life. Suppose that the Emperor were to send for this man, who had not supposed that the Emperor knew of his existence, and informed him that he wished to have him as a son-in-law. In all probability, the peasant, instead of being delighted, would be offended, since he would suppose that this could mean only that the Emperor wanted to make a fool of him!

And now for Christianity!

Christianity teaches that every man, say an ordinary man who would be quite proud of having once in his life talked with the King of Denmark, can talk with God any moment he wishes, and is sure to be heard by Him, that for this man’s sake God came into the world to suffer and die. If anything would stun a man, surely it is this. Whoever has not the humble courage to believe it, must surely be offended by it.

> (abridged from SICKNESS UNTO DEATH)

(Quoted by Peter Kiefer - ask for the hotlink)