Nihilism vs. Theistic Existentialism

[AmericanCatholic]

This is perhaps the best thing I've seen in this thread. It is reassuring to know that I'm at least making progress. But what do I do now?

Keep reading and keep thinking.

 

[wayseer]

The passing life of the senses doesn't lead to knowledge of what our Self is. When we clearly see what our Self is, then we shall truly know our Lord God in great joy. (Julian of Norwich)

Brother, bwtl I suspect you are a mystic. If I am any where near right you can expect to live life at the margins. By that I mean you will not readily accept what has been put in front of you as Truth without questioning what that might mean in your inner Self. Most people live by faith - you are not one of them. Deep within that Self you know something which many others can only dream of but which is yet to reach your conscious. That will take time. Be patient. You will have many difficulties ahead of you and the Path will be overgrown and at times might appear to lead underground. But you will persist as inwardly you know of no other way.

You will feel very much the outsider at times but you will note that wherever you lodge peace and harmony follow. That is the gift you bring. But you will feel lonely at times and at those times God will speak more clearly but expect no burning bush. Instead, there will be the fleeting word half heard above the din, the glimpse of something unseen by others, the voice of a choir unsighted and unheard. These are your signposts. With confidence such signs will become more readily identified.

But expect opposition - from the most unlikely of places. Many will quietly envy you but pay no heed to such as them - yours is a different path.

You will bring much joy to many - but you will probably never realise as much. Live your life quietly before God - even at those when you will think there is nothing else to live for. Expect no accolades - but you already know that.

Oh, one more thing - read the 'Cloud of Unknowing' if you have not already done so. You're in it.

 

[elman]

I am an 18 year old student attending a secular community college in Los Angeles, CA. Most college students my age who have some level of intellectuality, have what's called an "existential crisis", in which they contemplate existence, purpose, reality, morality, futility, destiny, politics, etc.

However, I've been experiencing my existential crisis for about two and a half years. I have been well aware of nihilism for some time, and as depressing as it is, I feel much of it makes sense. Sometimes I feel that the only thing that sets humans apart from animals is that, all man-made aesthetics aside (technology, politics, etc.) we are the only multicellular organisms that are also sentient beings (as far as we're aware of). Sure it's a significant difference, but when comparing grand-scheme of our physiological makeup to a bonobo (which has a 98% similarity to the genetic makeup of homo sapiens), it's such a small thing... we're just intellectually-advanced animals whose only purpose is to procreate. That's so depressing.

I find theistic existentialism to be ideal. It's the thought that God has planned the world to be the way it is today, and He has laid out a scenario for me to work with; however, I have complete and total control over my own life and I am responsible for anything and everything that happens to me and involves me. I find it to be an independent and significantly more optimistic outlook on life, but it's not always that easy to sustain such positivity.

To put it bluntly, I need proof that I am (and that you are) more than just a super-intellectual animal. Not that I have a purpose, but that my life is worth something. That my lonely physical existence on this planet won't be forgotten in 100 years amongst the other 6,709,891,133 people on this planet as of 7/14/08 at 6:20pm GMT. That I'm not just an insignificant speck in the grand-scheme of life, just 1/1,000,000 of an atom of a molecule of a dust particle that just brushed past the continuing train moving a BILLION miles an hour, that is everything that has happened, is happening, and will happen in God's creation. I need to know that I am more than almost nothing.

I agree. It is more reasonable to me to believe I exist for a reason than that I exist for no more reason than the rock I stumble on. I do not agree that "I have complete and total control over my own life and I am responsible for anything and everything that happens to me and involves me." I have some control over things that happen to me, but certainly not complete and total control. Being sentient or self aware is not a small thing. It is a very significant thing. I believe in nihilisim for any and all who do not connect with their Creator and receive the additional gift of eternal life.

 

[SaintJaques]

The passing life of the senses doesn't lead to knowledge of what our Self is. When we clearly see what our Self is, then we shall truly know our Lord God in great joy. (Julian of Norwich)

Brother, bwtl I suspect you are a mystic. If I am any where near right you can expect to live life at the margins. By that I mean you will not readily accept what has been put in front of you as Truth without questioning what that might mean in your inner Self. Most people live by faith - you are not one of them. Deep within that Self you know something which many others can only dream of but which is yet to reach your conscious. That will take time. Be patient. You will have many difficulties ahead of you and the Path will be overgrown and at times might appear to lead underground. But you will persist as inwardly you know of no other way.

You will feel very much the outsider at times but you will note that wherever you lodge peace and harmony follow. That is the gift you bring. But you will feel lonely at times and at those times God will speak more clearly but expect no burning bush. Instead, there will be the fleeting word half heard above the din, the glimpse of something unseen by others, the voice of a choir unsighted and unheard. These are your signposts. With confidence such signs will become more readily identified.

But expect opposition - from the most unlikely of places. Many will quietly envy you but pay no heed to such as them - yours is a different path.

You will bring much joy to many - but you will probably never realise as much. Live your life quietly before God - even at those when you will think there is nothing else to live for. Expect no accolades - but you already know that.

Oh, one more thing - read the 'Cloud of Unknowing' if you have not already done so. You're in it.

You should write a book. Note only was this reassuring and helpful in many ways, but entertaining to read. And re-read.

I assure you, I'm quite far from a mystic-- but when you say that I expect to live life on the margins, you hit the nail on the head. I'll definitely check out Cloud of Unknowing.

Thanks, wayseer.