In Fear and Trembling, under the pseudonym of Johannes de Silentio, Soren Kierkegaard explains the concept of faith. Kierkegaard believes that far too often we use faith as a starting point when in fact it is the greatest movement one can make. Essentially, we cannot have faith without going through various prerequisite movements and that, "faith begins precisely where thinking leaves off." This proposition establishes faith as a purely subjective matter that cannot be reasoned to.
Kierkegaard examines `the greatest movement one can make' by considering the story of Abraham and Isaac. He is perplexed at how Abraham could `raise the knife' on his own son; that he was willing to sacrifice Isaac [because of his faith in God], and at the same time had faith God would not require him see this act to fruition.
All along he had faith, he believed that God would not demand Isaac of him, while still he was willing to offer him if that was indeed what was demanded. He believed on the strength of the absurd, for there could be no question of human calculation, and it was indeed absurd that God who demanded this of him should in the next instant withdraw the demand. (Faith and Trembling 64)
It is clear that faith brings many complexities to the story of Abraham, so Kierkegaard investigates how one comes to have the faith that Abraham exhibited.
One does not begin with faith but in fact comes to faith through infinite resignation. This is where the idea of the Knight of Infinite Resignation comes in. To clearly portray the movements of this knight a new analogy is introduced involving a young lad who is in love with a princess. "The content of his whole life lies in this love, and yet the relationship is one that cannot possibly be brought to fruition, be translated fro ...