Christian Faith as a Stabilising Factor in Existential Crises: An Interdisciplinary Analysis Across Psychology, Stoicism, and Religious Studies

Abstract

Phases of existential disruption expose the fragility of human autonomy. Stability is often understood today as a product of personal control. When that control collapses, psychological disintegration becomes likely. This article examines the stabilising function of Christian faith in moments of extreme vulnerability. Drawing on resilience research, existential psychology, and early Stoic thought, it argues that Christian trust in God operates as an external, relational anchor that protects individuals from the collapse of self-referential meaning systems. Unlike optimism or self-efficacy, faith offers a non-contingent horizon of meaning. It supports people when conventional coping fails.