Existentialism

Running Head: Existentialism: To Be Or

Existentialism: To Be or Not to Be?

Erica Mannery-Barker

Belhaven University

WVC106/ONLI/3B-2013/SPRING/VIRTUAL/Intro to Christian Worldviews

Dr. Lee Skinkle

February 3, 2013

Abstract

Existentialists live in a world that is not intelligible, has no purpose and is without worth and value. The subjective being of man and the objective being (studied by science) are the two types of existentialistic beings. The subjective being defines himself and is free, whereas the objective being is automatous and has no freedom.

There are three types of Existentialism: theistic (belief that there is a God), agnostic (does not know if God exists or not), and atheistic (belief that God does not exist). Theistic, agnostic, and atheistic existentialism all stress the importance of the individual being as a free and self-determining entity with the ability to create their own purpose and value system. All three sub-categories feel that matter exists.

Christian Theism is centered on the belief of an infinite, immanent, transcendent, and personal God that is the creator the world. God is the Purposer, Orderer and Law-giver to an intelligible world. The basic problem for the Christian Theist is sin and Christ is the only solution. In contrast, the Existentialist believes that if God exists, he is not comprehensible by the human intellect. The world is purposeless and is without goodness or value. Human beings are free but live in a world without of freedom. The basic problem is the failure to see human beings as free and self-determining. The solution to this problem would be the realization of this freedom thus creating our own purpose and principles.

Keywords: existentialism, worldview, Christian, God, theistic, agnostic, atheistic, objective being, subjective being, intelligible,

“Existentialism: To Be or Not to Be”

In the world of Existentialism, God (if he indeed exists) is not comprehensible by the...