Abstract

Freedom is at the heart of Sartre’s existentialism and no existentialist can be compared to him in this regard. His idea of freedom is novel, profound and elaborate more than any other classical existentialist. For him, freedom is the supreme value of existential thought. His existential thought however challenge the reality of God in world religions. He avers that man can achieve success, progress or any other thing without God. This is not only an affront to religions but to African culture and beliefs as it is a truism that God is an important part of African world-view of human existence as it is almost inconceivable to think of man in Africa without God. How then can we reconcile these two seemingly contradictory notion of freedom? In responding to the question, this paper interrogate Sartre’s notion of freedom within the concept of biblical freedom. The purpose is to argue for the possibility of achieving a balance that can help in the promotion of qualitative human existence in Africa. The Church in Africa can benefit from Sartre’s idea of freedom though atheistic. Also, Sartre’s existentialism can be made richer through the knowledge of biblical freedom.