Existentialism

As many current philosophers define it, existentialism is the idea that humans exist in an irrational universe and through their lives try to make rational decisions based off a universal nothingness. The only way to make meaning of life is to embrace existence and ignore the general nothingness of the universe around us. It emphasizes the existence of a person as a free and rational being who can control their own lives and destinies. 

The philosophers who were the founders of this religion were Camus, Sartre and Kierkegaard.

Camus didn't like labels and found the idea of categorization generally disruptive to the human will for life. In general, he was ambivalent to the idea of philosophy, and is quoted saying “I am not a philosopher, because I don’t believe in reason enough to believe in a system. What interests me is knowing how we must behave, and more precisely, how to behave when one does not believe in God or reason." In general, he was more fascinated with the Absurd than the other believers in this philosophy. One of the questions he often posed was: "Does the universe respond to philosophical thought at all or is it fruitless?"

Jean-Paul Sartre often questioned the ability of humans to "take on" personality traits. He often described when humans under pressure adopted false values and “disowned their innate freedom” as a part of life that was interesting and important to study. He was fascinated with the human psyche becuase he believed that all humans were capable of rationalizing the world around them.

Kierkegaard was a deeply religious man who often questioned the reason for human beliefs in the world around them. He was less of an existentialist in the sense of his belief in general nothingness, as he was religious, but still posed interesting questions about the ability for humans to see the irrational world around them. He developed the theory of existential stages.