- Kierkegaard sees suffering as a way to follow in the way of Christ, the same way he died on the cross for our sins - His biggest form of suffering was through the loss of his ironic relationship with Regina - His relationship with Regina is not ultimate in itself. This [[Suffering]] of letting go for the sake of following the religious life is the suffering that allows us to connect with the ultimate. - He believed that his finite ethical relationship with Regina would hinder his relationship with God. Is this why priests do not have partners? - Also seen as iconic, relationships act as pointers to help guide us towards what is ultimate. - That's not to say that we should not engage in a relationship. There's an ironic understanding in how "the irony is that you realize the way in which what is not ultimate participates in what is Ultimate". - This suffering allowed him to: - Embark on the [[Kierkegaards three stages of life#Religious life]] - Experience aporia to reorient to what is ultimate - he realized that relationships are not the ultimate form of fulfillment - Follow in the way of christ