When you hear the word “existentialism,” you might think of abstract philosophy. But at its core, existentialism is about something simple and deeply human: The struggle to find meaning in life when no single answer is guaranteed.
3 Schools of Existentialist Thought
Over the past two centuries, different thinkers have taken the concept of existentialism in different directions. Some wrestled with faith, others rejected it, and still others looked for a balance in between.
Let’s walk through three main schools of thought, so you can see how they differ and what values they share.
1. Atheistic Existentialism: Facing Life Without God
If you’ve ever felt the weight of life’s uncertainty without reaching for a religious explanation, you’re not alone. Atheistic existentialism faces the idea of human finiteness without turning to God or the supernatural.
Jean-Paul Sartre is often the face of this movement. His famous line, “existence precedes essence,” means that you’re not born with a set purpose. Instead, you define yourself by the choices you make. In novels like “Nausea,” Sartre showed how unsettling and freeing that realization can be.
Friedrich Nietzsche pushed the conversation even further. Declaring “God is dead”, Nietzsche argued that morality isn’t handed down from above. Instead, it’s created by human beings. His philosophy is often linked to nihilism, but Nietzsche’s real focus was on reimagining values, not erasing them.
2. Existential Humanism: Shaping Meaning Together
Existential humanism keeps the emphasis on human freedom but highlights your role in shaping not only your own life but also the lives of others.
Søren Kierkegaard, a religious thinker, influenced this tradition by stressing the importance of personal choice. Later, Sartre reframed the idea in secular terms. For him, being human meant having the power and the responsibility to decide who you will become. Unlike older versions of humanism that leaned on “human nature,” existential humanism insists that your values aren’t fixed. They’re created through your lived projects and commitments.
Writers like Simone de Beauvoir took this further. In “The Ethics of Ambiguity,” she argued that true freedom isn’t about doing whatever you want but about working to secure the freedom of others as well. Human-centered existentialism resonates with people who want a moral framework without relying on divine authority.
3. Christian Existentialism: Finding Faith Through Struggle
Christian existentialism asks, “What if the search for meaning leads you toward God?”
Søren Kierkegaard is again the key figure here. He believed that life is full of anxiety and paradoxes, and that faith isn’t about solving them logically but about embracing them through a “leap of faith.” For Kierkegaard, practicing Christianity meant having a deeply personal relationship with God, not following social convention.
Other theologians and philosophers, like Paul Tillich, Gabriel Marcel, and Fyodor Dostoevsky, developed this line of thought in different traditions. They argued that authentic Christian faith comes from confronting despair, wrestling with freedom, and choosing to live in love.
In this view, the Bible itself can be read existentially—not as a list of external rules, but as a text that challenges you personally and invites you into a relationship with the divine.
Becoming a Minister of Your Own Truth
If this conversation about existentialism sparks something in you, take the next step and become a minister with the Universal Life Church. Ordination is free, welcomes people of all beliefs, and gives you the chance to share your perspective, perform weddings, or even start your own ministry. The ULC believes in honoring freedom of thought and conscience, and we encourage you to live out your truth while helping others do the same.