Tikėjimas kaip egzistencija: S.Kierkegaardas ir G. Marcelis

All existentialist philosophers are considered for the most part to be the followers of the S0ren Kierkegaard. Despite the variety of the conceptual differences among them, we can single out those whose way of philosophical thinking is rooted hi the situation that could be characterised as the crossroad of philosophical reflection upon subjectivity and the Christian faith. Among them most eminent is French philosopher and dramatist Gabriel Marcel, whose name is mostly linked with theistic existentialism.Making use of an independently developed phenomenological method, Marcel explained human being under such themes as incarnation, participation, involvement, problem and mystery. Marcel's critique of speculative idealism, including scholasticism and his defence of individuality and faith resemble Kierkegaard's critique of Hegel's system in which the concreteness of individual existence is dissolved into a set of abstractions. They both reject Hegel's view that individual's existence depends upon the abstract concept and maintain that the individual constitutes himself as the individual through his choice of a certain mode of existence. Kierkegaard's principle that ,,truth is subjectivity" corresponds to Marcel's assertion that truth consists in the experience of mystery rather than in dealing with problems. They share a common view that faith consists not in the institutional confessional devotion, but in the profound personal inwardness which means hope and despair, ceaseless risky efforts and choices without assurance of salvation.