On Religion and Philosophy

One of the things I have enjoyed most while reading existentialist literature has been the lack of religious discussion that seems to describe many of these existentialist essays. Even the christian theologian of the 1700’s, Søren Kierkegaard only used his religious beliefs as a simple jumping off point for the more profound ideas he had concerning philosophy. It seems that Martin Heidegger may also fall into the same camp as Kierkegaard, although Heidegger seems to use a more general sense of religion rather than a strictly christian view. While I typically do not enjoy discussions of religion, I believe it is something that should be strictly personal, I find that having knowledge of a philosophers religious views can really add an enlightening perspective to their ideas. While Heidegger’s personal religious are never significantly revealed during these readings, his later works concerning being became increasingly theological in nature, having a prior knowledge of Heidegger’s strong Catholic identity make his views on death and Da-Sein all the more interesting. Particularly interesting to me is his hypothesis that one Da-Sein can experience the death of others. According to Heidegger, by one Da-Sein dying and transitioning into a state of no-longer-being-there, the Da-Sein enters a sort of being-with with others. Seemingly, as one dies, one also enters a new state of unity with other Da-Sein. As warm and fuzzy as this conclusion may seem at first, it is quite watered down due to the fact that, according to Heidegger, as a Da-Sein moves to a state of no-longer-being-there, it also loses the ability to experience this transition. Without an ability to experience this period, it makes little difference to the state of Da-Sein that we are currently in. I like the way this view seemingly contrasts with traditional Catholic belief of heaven and the afterlife. Rather than an eternity of heavenly bliss, Heidegger seems to propose that the afterlife is an endlessly un-experienceable state of being-with others.

Solomon, Robert C. Existentialism. New York: Oxford UP, 2005. Print.