Spirituality: An Existentialist Perspective

Existentialism as a school of philosophy raises important questions about meaning and purpose and other such factors traditionally associated with spirituality. It also raises important questions about death and dying and the finite nature of human existence. As such, it provides a useful platform for developing our understanding of how spirituality relates to experiences of crisis, loss, and grief. This article explores some key existentialist issues, such as the paradox of meaning, the nature of human existence, personal and social identity and authenticity, and relates each of these to the interface between spirituality on the one hand, and crisis and loss on the other.