NEXUS OF FAITH AND REASON: EXPLORING THE INTERPLAY OF EXISTENTIALISM AND THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

People across various disciplines of human inquiry have been critical of the intricate nexus of faith and reason over the years. Usually, intense debates and controversies arise as humans tend to determine which concept qualifies as the final arbiter in answering life’s most compelling questions. Existentialism as a philosophical ideology emphasizes individual existence, freedom and choice as formidable prerequisites for meaningful living. The Christian faith, on the other hand, anchors meaningful existence on a genuine relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. By isolating existentialism as a philosophical ideology that shares significant affinities and differences with the basic tenets of the Christian faith, the paper aims to explore the congruity and points of divergence between the two concepts. The paper posits that while contradictory principles of existentialism should trigger a concern among Christians, its compatible and relevant teachings with the Christian tenets on human existence should be embraced and imbibed.