The author analyzes the problem of salvation in the former of the two Kierkegaard's writings published under the pseudonym Anti-Climacus. This was "Sickness Unto Death" (1849). The author also draws attention to the earlier 1846-49 writings of the "Corsair affair" period where Kierkegaard pioneered the problem of publicity and mass society. A need to realize an up-to-date vision of salvation which Kierkegaard felt against the utterly polemic background set up by the "Corsair affair" resulted in modern ideas in theology.