Existentialism
I remember how I was obsessed by existentialism back then. However, when I first learnt about its true significance, it was actually a very sad big let down. Why? Lemme tell ya, basically, existentialism talks about existence preceding essence. What does this mean? Well, this simply means that nothing creates you. At first, you’re there, and then you create for you your very own essence, your very own destiny. So, for existentialism, there is actually no God’s will, there is no God’s work, there is fate, no destiny, and else. Existentialism talks about you creating your version of truth; you imaging god according to your accordance, and else. Basically, there is no universal truth, there is no God. Which is true and which is wrong, they all depend on each person, ‘cos every person has their own truth, remember? And there is no God! You can create one for you if you want.
Oopss, where have I heard of this before? Doesn’t this sound a bit like postmodernism? Well, yes it is Actually, postmodernism is existentialism repackaged. So, errr… I remember when I took (actually it should be “I was forced to take”) a discipleship class at my church. We were discussing questions every week and the facilitator would like encourage each participant to give input with encouragement like, “Come on! Answer it! No need to be afraid or doubtful! There is no wrong answer. Every answer is correct.” This kind of encouragement seems to be pretty popular lately. Now, even though it was said for the sake of encouraging the participants, I still felt that it was just not right. I mean, for centuries, churches had been trying their best to fend off this monstrous beast called existentialism, which is now postmodernism, but she simply brought the beast in! Dude, come on!
Now, what is actually wrong about this concept? Well, I must admit that I am not THAT (it should be pronounced in a very cynical tone) open-minded. Having no wrong answer is just wrong. First, I believe in what we call as the “objective truth” meaning that while some truth can be viewed from several paradigms, but there is always a truth which is simply objective. No matter where you are, the truth will remain the same. Secondly, take note that people actually develop because they DO make mistakes and they learn from it. Imagine if you had a world in which all the people were having their own version of truth, what would you have there? Chaos and stagnancy! Why? Cos’ they wouldn’t learn anything and they wouldn’t be able to admit their mistakes. The only thing they would know was that they were right. At that point, they would then stop developing.
Scary? Yes! Cool? No way…
Let’s go to the main point (awww! After all those going-round-and-round theories, we still have the meat? Come on…)! I am always confused with those people embracing existentialism and postmodernism. I always want to ask, “Why?” They discard God from their life, and live with their own version of god, which is actually saddening. They haven’t lived their life to the end, they haven’t met God, but at very same point, they simply declare that there is no God. Oh, come on! God exists, you know? Many people met Him and live having a personal time with God every time. If you want to discard God that badly, then give some proofs… you can’t, can you? Your proofs just don’t prove anything. You don’t really know whether God exists or not.
With this post, I encourage all people to keep on believing. If you have reached the very end of your life and God still doesn’t come for you, then it’s your freedom to stop believing, but you just haven’t reached that stage, leading to another fact that you haven’t proven anything. So, please… keep on believing. I’m sure you won’t regret this. I’m sure it won’t do you any harm. This is it. I
stop here. Bless ya!
