Foreword

Abstract

The rise of Existentialism in the 20th century has been wrested from the leadership of two systematizing thinkers and intellectual adventurers. Ravaged by the two world wars that had plagued the old world, people began to understand and appreciate more philosophers whom in the past they considered anachronistic, if not charlatans. These refers to Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche, two philosophers who are regarded as original thinkers of Existentialism. Like Nietzsche after him, but for radically different reasons, Kierkegaard despised the constructors of logical and utopian humanism. However, both agreed that Christianity, as an institutionalized religion, was the sign of contradiction destined for the salvation of souls and at the same time the corruption of the human race. In his life and writings, Kierkegaard rejected vehemently the complacency and false sanctity of secularized Christianity of his age. With fearless courage, he insists to go back to the tragic truths of the Sacred Scriptures and boldly embraced the very harsh sacrifices that come with the witnessing to Christ. Nietzsche on the other hand, despaired at the counterfeit and deceptive Christianity of his age. He dramatically professed its corruption and bankruptcy, the death of God, the dishonesty of morality, the cowardice of man, and the impending destruction in the coming of the Übermensch. Unfortunately, both of them suffered the lonely lives of moral reformers. They diagnosed the illness of contemporary man, and consequently, they were rejected by an unbelieving society. While they are alive, they were regarded as insane, but in death, they were seen as prophets and seers of great importance and significance.