"human reason has boundaries" --keirkegaard

just finished albert camus's "the stranger" and it was a slow, but quite an interesting read based on existentialism. i did a bit of research on the topic and came to realize that my last entry (an entry which i wrote before i ever opened the book) has a lot to do with existentialism. it covers the concept of "despair," which existentialists believe to be the breakdown of one's identity. for example, a championship basketball player who loses his arms. his identity breaks down because his arms and his ability to play basketball WERE his identity. existentialists believe that you are in perpetual despair if you base your identity on one or more thing because these things can break down at any moment, meaning you are vulnerable to breaking down as well.


i don't agree with this philosophy in all respects. i think the concept of the "absurd" is quite absurd. i do think there is meaning to life beyond the meaning we give it. this sort of philosophy does make sense in a sort of rational-irrational way but since i have my own beliefs, which i consider to be the complete truth, i cannot agree with this way of thinking. there is a universal meaning to life but not everyone has found it. i see how, for atheists, meaning for them would simply be the relationships they've experienced, memories, sentiments, etc...but for me, there is so much more meaning to life and a purpose. not our purpose but a greater purpose. an existential life isn't a life worth living. i can see why they don't mind dying. if there is nothing beyond ourselves, than life is a waste of time because waking up everyday, doing the 9 to 5, the daily grind of life...it's just not worth it. i think religion falls into the daily grind as well. some people hold onto it because it comforts them and becomes more about traditions/rules and rituals and less about loving people. i see how people can make the argument that religion gives people a false sense of hope and something to live for. but for me, it's not a false hope at all. i don't consider myself religious because of it's negative connotation but i'm definitely spiritual and identify as a christian (i think, though, that if i had that title stripped from me, i'd still maintain my identity just fine).