Throughout the portion of Fear and Trembling that we’ve read so far, Kierkegaard continuously paints faith as a sort of paradox. This characterization can be seen clearly in the section, “Eulogy on Abraham.” He explains that in patiently waiting for Sarah to become pregnant despite the fact of her old age, Abraham exhibits faith. He hopes and expects something to happen that the laws of nature have proven almost impossible. Therefore, according to Kierkegaard, his faith makes him childlike; he hopes in ignorance of reality like an uneducated kid. In this sense, faith seems contrary to rationality and akin to foolishness. However, at the same time, this foolishness is rewarded in a way that rationality would not have been. Abraham perseveres and finally has a son. Therefore, while contrary to rationality, it is also somehow greater than rationality.
According to Kierkegaard this same duality of faith can be seen when Abraham is willing and prepared to sacrifice his beloved son. Had Abraham had less faith, he would have acted more heroically. He would have sacrificed himself instead, “something great and glorious…[that] would have been admired in the world” (20-1). Instead, his faith almost leads him to sacrifice his son, an action that would most surely be labeled horrific by our world. Therefore in this sense, faith is contrary to the heroic and lower than it. At the same time though, it was Abraham’s willingness to obey this command—which was made possible by his faith—that has made his story unforgettable. By acting contrary to the heroic, he has somehow become a timeless hero.
I get the feeling that Kierkegaard thinks this duality of faith is an unsolvable mystery—a secret quality that partly explains faith’s power. However, is it possible that this duality does not really exist? I think that these supposed contradictions are merely the result of an ignorance of perspective on the part of Kierkegaard. Abraham’s faith that Sarah will get pregnant despite the couple’s old age is only foolish from one perspective. Science and experience tell us that the human body loses its ability to reproduce at a certain age. However, from a Christian perspective, this faith isn’t foolish at all. For Christianity claims that God is all-powerful and presumably can bend the laws of nature without much difficulty.
Similarly, in the case of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his only son, this willingness is only considered un-heroic from an earthly (this probably isn’t the right word here) perspective that deems self-sacrifice the most heroic human act. From a Christian perspective, however, self-sacrifice in this situation—which would have been an act of blatant disobedience to God—would have been the un-heroic action. From this perspective, Abraham’s willingness was heroic. Surely this is the reason he still remains a sort of Christian hero today.
I agree with your thoughts that sometimes Christianity tries to bend the rules and labeling it as faith, but I also cannot see how one thing that doesn't seem rational actually results in something greater than rationality. I think you also raise concerns that could be explained through perspectivism, as some truths are relative to the onlooker, in this case the followers of Christianity, and those just simply a part of the moral community.
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