- Last week we highlighted the rise and characteristics of Postmodern thought during the second half of the 20th century. We also mentioned how Postmodernism expresses itself in three primary manifestations: Postmodern Existentialism, Postmodern Spiritualism, and Postmodern Secularism.
- Postmodern Existentialism flows directly out of the Naturalistic-Humanistic worldview that there is no God and men and women are alone in the universe.
- Existentialism is simply a fancy philosophical term which means, “meaning of existence”. So, a Postmodern Existentialist is one who recognizes that without a God to instill meaning and purpose to our lives, humanity must create our own meaning and purpose.
- Sadly though, the logical outcome of Existentialist philosophy is that life is ultimately meaningless and absurd. As the famous Existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre once said, “No finite point (man) has meaning without an infinite reference point (God)” (parentheses mine).
- Postmodern Existentialism creates a spiritual vacuum where man has consciously divorced himself from the reality of his Creator (Romans 1:18-32). And the sad reality of Existentialism is that those who embrace this philosophy realize what they have done. Again, quoting Sartre, “That God does not exist, I cannot deny, that my whole being cries out for God I cannot forget.”
For more information on Postmodernism and other Worldviews, please check out the Apologetics Study Bible for Students, available in our online store.