Haase_UZ_x007E_DTh (2).pdf - South African Theological Seminary

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Existentialism
Romanticism inevitably gave way to another wave of modernity, another resurgence of
humanistic rationalism, materialism and naturalism -- the pendulum swinging back the
other way, as it always seems to do. Once again, life became mechanistic and devoid of
ontological significance. It had less meaning, romance, feeling and sense of greater
purpose, or raison d’être. Predictably, a new wave of frustration with modernity arose
and with it came another romantic reaction: existentialism.
Existentialism makes a significant contribution to postmodernism and with Nihilism,
is closely related to it. Grenz and various others acknowledge the contribution of
Heidegger (e.g., the father of German Existentialism) to postmodern thinking (1996:103-
104). While Veith (1994:19, 37-38, 42, 73, etc.) and Erickson (2001:75-84, 93-96, 131,
310), give considerable attention to making the historical-philosophical connection.
Veith says, for example: “Existentialism provides the rationale for contemporary
relativism. Since everyone creates his or her own meaning, every meaning is equally
valid” (Veith, 1994:38). And, “Existentialism is the philosophical basis for
postmodernism” (ibid, 38).
Existentialism -- like the far more radical postmodernism -- is a movement of
frustration, an attempt to find the individual self, to find meaning and purpose in life,
beyond some mechanistically determined existence. Both existentialism and
postmodernism are difficult to define. Practitioners from both camps are diverse,
sometimes unified, though just as often diverse.
Modernity produces people who feel trapped, unable to see, think, or feel beyond the
natural limits imposed upon them. Mankind then wonders: is there no more to life than
this Is this all there is
Existentialism is in part a protest movement
against modern, mass society. The
organization of industry, technology, politics
and bureaucracy tend to stifle individual
thought and action and cultivate conformist
mediocrity (Brown, 1968:184).
University of Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa