A salto mortale is far more than just a leap, as Kierkegaard well understood, along with Jacobi his mentor in matters of metaphor. This metaphor is used as an image of faith. However, researchers often speak only of a leap of faith, thereby interchanging the two motions/metaphors. Compared to a leap of faith, the salto mortale suggest a far more complex notion of God, man, and religious commitment.

Gloria Dell'Eva, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany and University of Padua, Italy.