The Creative Power of “Existential Dread”

by Bill Ireland

I recently came across an article published on the BBC Worklife website bearing the head-snapping title, “The unsettling power of existential dread.”i Well, the title served its purpose—I had to see what the author, David Robson, had to say.

Drawing on recent research, the substance of the article confirms something we’ve already experienced or witnessed in our contexts. Namely, the rise in existential threats (COVID, Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine, climate-change induced natural disasters, etc.), has generated some very unhealthy responses:

Besides making us feel depressed and stressed, the constant reminders of the threats to ourselves and our society may lead us to become more closed-minded and dogmatic in our opinions, and they can render us more susceptible to conspiracy theories as we search for meaning in the uncertainty. 

The constant drumbeat of bad news is not neutral—far from it! Over time, it can bring out the worst in us. We toss out nuance and thoughtful reflection in favor of binary, either-or thinking. We make up our minds and refuse to entertain other ways of looking at things. Since the world is so unsettled, we search for something to hold onto, something, anything that makes us feel secure. Sadly, followers of Christ are not immune to this development. As ministers, we’ve witnessed firsthand a rise in anxiety, reactivity, and resistance. The people to whom we minister are stressed out, and we are likely stressed out from trying to counter these toxic influences. We understand that “existential dread” is very much with us.

Nevertheless, there is an upside in all the chaos swirling around us. Robson also points to research that indicates many people choose to do something creative in the midst of chaos. Doing whatever we can to make the world a better place can quell our fears and make anxiety subside. In other words, creativity can effectively counter dread and lessen its impact.

This conclusion suggests that now, perhaps more than ever, it is important for churches to engage in more mission directed service and activity, not less. In other words, now is not the time for a congregation to hunker down; in fact, that course of action will likely make things worse. Instead, now is the time for churches to turn outward and follow its mandate to serve others. Now is the time for congregations to listen more attentively to the dreamers in their midst to consider new possibilities and counter the “business as usual” mindset. Using our gifts and assets to bless others is certainly in keeping with the example of Jesus. But, perhaps more importantly for this moment in time, working together will release a flood of “spiritual endorphins” that will lessen our fear and anxiety and remind us that we can indeed do something that matters.

iSee (https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220929-the-unsettling-power-of-existential-dread).