06/13/26

When I was serving in the US Military in my early 20s, I heard that the President of the United States, former General Dwight David Eisenhower, had purchased a collection of books called the Great Books of the Western World. I said to myself, if it’s good enough for President Eisenhower, it’s good enough for me. So I subscribed and paid for them monthly. So, I was somewhat bewildered when I started reading a volume by French Philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre titled “Existentialism and Humanism.” Since he was an atheist, I figured that it was something anti-God. Over time, I encountered Existentialism in theological literature and heard about it in my university studies. So, I wanted to know more about Existentialism, and after some research, I discovered that while classical Greek writers did not use the term “existentialism,” which emerged in the 19th-20th centuries, some addressed existentialist themes such as radical freedom, individual responsibility, and subjective meaning. Basically, Existentialism is a philosophical movement emphasizing individual freedom, personal responsibility, and the belief that life has no inherent meaning. It argues that humans must actively create their own purpose through their choices and actions, rather than relying on predetermined rules or higher powers.

When I was serving in the US Military in my early 20s, I heard that the President of the United States, former General Dwight David Eisenhower, had purchased a collection of books called the Great Books of the Western World. I said to myself, if it’s good enough for President Eisenhower, it’s good enough for me. So I subscribed and paid for them monthly. So, I was somewhat bewildered when I started reading a volume by French Philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre titled “Existentialism and Humanism.” Since he was an atheist, I figured that it was something anti-God. Over time, I encountered Existentialism in theological literature and heard about it in my university studies. So, I wanted to know more about Existentialism, and after some research, I discovered that while classical Greek writers did not use the term “existentialism,” which emerged in the 19th-20th centuries, some addressed existentialist themes such as radical freedom, individual responsibility, and subjective meaning.

Notably, Socrates is considered a forerunner for his focus on living authentically and subjective truth, while Epicurus emphasized individual choice in seeking happiness. He championed the idea of seeking individual happiness (hedonism) over strict adherence to traditional societal roles, which some argue constituted an embryonic form of individualism, opposing the view of man as solely a social animal. Most recently, I heard it used by talking heads on TV news programs, especially in reference to the war in Iran. So I decided to see what psychologists had to say about Existentialism and Existentialists.”

I found that Psychologists, particularly those in humanistic and existential-humanistic fields, view existentialism as a powerful framework for addressing the human condition, with a focus on freedom, responsibility, and the search for meaning. It helps clients move beyond symptom reduction to confront core life challenges like death, isolation, and freedom, fostering authenticity and personal growth. They focused on the “givens” of existence—death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness. It addresses the tension between individual freedom and societal expectations.

Furthermore, they believe that because life has no inherent, preordained meaning, individuals are responsible for creating their own meaning, which is crucial for mental health. So, rather than just treating symptoms, existential therapy encourages patients to live authentically, embracing their freedom to choose. That’s because existentialists believe anxiety is not just looking at the causes, development, and effects, but a normal part of life that arises from having to make choices and facing life’s limitations. It can be rebranded as “growth” or a “nudge” toward taking responsibility. They explain that existentialism promotes the creation of authentic relationships to counter the inherent isolation of being human. They saw that Greek mythology and some philosophers suggested that life is dictated by fate or the Fates, which contradicts the core existentialist belief in total free will, even though heroes often tried to defy these constraints. 

But that wasn’t enough, I wanted to know what the Bible had to say about this subject. I found that the Bible does acknowledge existential themes—such as the anxiety of death, the fleeting nature of life, and the search for meaning—primarily in Ecclesiastes and Job. Still, it rejects secular existentialism by anchoring purpose in God rather than in subjective experience. It argues that life feels “meaningless” without a divine connection, urging humanity to find contentment and purpose through God. For instance, the book of Ecclesiastes describes existence as fleeting, transient, and “vain” (often translated as “meaningless” or “mist” in the original Hebrew because of its impermanence and death’s inevitability. So, similar to existentialist thought, the Bible explores the sense that human effort is futile, yet it concludes that meaning is found in fearing God and keeping His commandments, rather than in creating one’s own meaning. Also, while secular existentialism focuses on individual freedom in a meaningless world, the Bible offers stability, encouraging trust in God’s unwavering presence to overcome anxiety. In so doing, the Bible directly addresses the fear of death, proposing that eternity is set in human hearts and that true life is found beyond physical existence. Furthermore, Ecclesiastes encourages living in the moment, enjoying everyday life, and being content, viewing these as gifts from God rather than merely as sources of subjective happiness. While some themes overlap, the Bible differs from existentialism in that it focuses on the Creator’s objective truth rather than solely on the subjective human experience. 

Notably, Socrates is considered a forerunner for his focus on living authentically and subjective truth, while Epicurus emphasized individual choice in seeking happiness. He championed the idea of seeking individual happiness (hedonism) over strict adherence to traditional societal roles, which some argue constituted an embryonic form of individualism, opposing the view of man as solely a social animal. Most recently, I heard it used by talking heads on TV news programs, especially in reference to the war in Iran. So I decided to see what psychologists had to say about Existentialism and Existentialists.”

I found that Psychologists, particularly those in humanistic and existential-humanistic fields, view existentialism as a powerful framework for addressing the human condition, with a focus on freedom, responsibility, and the search for meaning. It helps clients move beyond symptom reduction to confront core life challenges like death, isolation, and freedom, fostering authenticity and personal growth. They focused on the “givens” of existence—death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness. It addresses the tension between individual freedom and societal expectations.

Furthermore, they believe that because life has no inherent, preordained meaning, individuals are responsible for creating their own meaning, which is crucial for mental health. So, rather than just treating symptoms, existential therapy encourages patients to live authentically, embracing their freedom to choose. That’s because existentialists believe anxiety is not just looking at the causes, development, and effects, but a normal part of life that arises from having to make choices and facing life’s limitations. It can be rebranded as “growth” or a “nudge” toward taking responsibility. They explain that existentialism promotes the creation of authentic relationships to counter the inherent isolation of being human. They saw that Greek mythology and some philosophers suggested that life is dictated by fate or the Fates, which contradicts the core existentialist belief in total free will, even though heroes often tried to defy these constraints. 

But that wasn’t enough, I wanted to know what the Bible had to say about this subject. I found that the Bible does acknowledge existential themes—such as the anxiety of death, the fleeting nature of life, and the search for meaning—primarily in Ecclesiastes and Job. Still, it rejects secular existentialism by anchoring purpose in God rather than in subjective experience. It argues that life feels “meaningless” without a divine connection, urging humanity to find contentment and purpose through God. For instance, the book of Ecclesiastes describes existence as fleeting, transient, and “vain” (often translated as “meaningless” or “mist” in the original Hebrew because of its impermanence and death’s inevitability.

So, similar to existentialist thought, the Bible explores the sense that human effort is futile, yet it concludes that meaning is found in fearing God and keeping His commandments, rather than in creating one’s own meaning. Also, while secular existentialism focuses on individual freedom in a meaningless world, the Bible offers stability, encouraging trust in God’s unwavering presence to overcome anxiety. In so doing, the Bible directly addresses the fear of death, proposing that eternity is set in human hearts and that true life is found beyond physical existence. Furthermore, Ecclesiastes encourages living in the moment, enjoying everyday life, and being content, viewing these as gifts from God rather than merely as sources of subjective happiness. While some themes overlap, the Bible differs from existentialism in that it focuses on the Creator’s objective truth rather than solely on the subjective human experience.