Abstract

Nihilism as appropriated in existentialist-absurdist thought appears as a stubborn problem and consequent absurdism of such writers as Beckett follows which is a very unsatisfactory position from a philosophical or metaphysical viewpoint. Mysticism as articulated in such writers as Simone Weil offers an alternative approach to tackle the problem of nihilism and critique existentialist thought and its appropriation for absurdist response. The present paper, building on the works of Simone Weil, presents the version of religion that appropriates absurdists challenge in a novel manner. Her metaphysical/mystical reading of Christianity is largely immune to existentialist-absurdist critiques as she does not invoke problematic conceptions of divinity, hope, consolation and soul or self that have been criticized by absurdists like Beckett.