Philosophy of Religion Research

Analyzing Existential Challenges within the Framework of the Fourfold Human Relationships

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

1 Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Islamic Philosophy and Kalam, Sabzevar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sabzevar, Iran.

2 Associate Professor, Department of Islamic Philosophy and Wisdom, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran.

3 Associate Professor, Department of Quran and Hadith Studies, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran.

Abstract

Existential challenges constitute some of humanity's most profound concerns, arising from individuals' encounters with fundamental questions regarding meaning, purpose, freedom, loneliness, and death. Unlike routine problems, these challenges are inherently philosophical and fundamental, deeply influencing all dimensions of human life. To achieve a comprehensive and systematic understanding of these challenges, this study employs a synthesis research method to identify and classify various components of existential challenges, introducing a novel analytical framework based on the fourfold model of human relationships. By encompassing different existential dimensions—individual (self-awareness and introspection), social (human relationships), spirituality, and nature—and exploring their interrelationships, this framework facilitates a more realistic and profound understanding of existential concerns, providing more effective strategies for addressing them. The findings indicate that many existential crises originate primarily from an individual's relationship with the self, the primary source of perception and understanding, subsequently reflecting in other relational dimensions. Furthermore, each existential challenge can be traced across these four types of relationships, with the quality of these interactions directly influencing the intensification or alleviation of existential anxieties. Utilizing this fourfold relationship analytical framework allows for a more precise identification of the root causes of existential issues within individuals and enables a deeper exploration of relational dysfunctions as underlying factors contributing to these challenges. This analytical approach thus lays the groundwork for developing more effective interventions and strategies, ultimately enhancing life quality and fostering existential growth.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Abaei Koupaei, M., and Leila Sarabadani Tafreshi. 2015. “The Relationship between Trust in God and Existential Anxiety among University Instructors.” Journal of Police Resources Management 12: 105-126. [In Persian]
Amiri, M., and Amir Abbas Alizamani. 2018. “Existential Solitude in the Modern World and the Ways of Dealing with it with Emphasis on Ervin Yalom’s Viewpoint.” Occidental Studies 9(1): 1-22. [In Persian]
Azizi, M., and Amirabbas Alizamani. 2016. “Survey of Irvin Yalom's Attitude to the Relationship Between Ontological Concerns of Death Thinking and Meaning of Life.” Journal of Ontological Researches 4(8): 19-37. [In Persian]
Babakhani, F. 2021. “The Effectiveness of Existential Group Therapy on Existential Anxiety, Depression, and Quality of Life in the Elderly”. Master's Thesis, Clinical Psychology - Family Therapy, Science and Culture University of Tehran: Faculty of Humanities. [In Persian]
Chalmers. I. Larry V Hedges, and Harris Cooper. 2002. “A Brief History of Research Synthesis.” Evaluation and Health Professionals 25(1): 12-37.
Daryabeigi, Mir Alireza. 2015. "An Inquiry into the Function of Existential Freedom from the Perspective of Irvin Yalom in the Plays of Albert Camus". Master's Thesis in Art Research, Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch: Faculty of Art. [In Persian]
Davoodi Kahaki, R. and Rasoul RAHBARI GHAZANI. 2025. “Beauty and the Meaning of Life in Farabi’s Philosophy: A Reinterpretation for Contemporary Humanity.” Philosophy of Religion Research 23(1): 181-199. doi: 10.30497/prr.2025.247897.1986[In Persian]
Dehghanpour, Vahideh. 2015. "The Purposefulness of Life in the Thought of Mulla Sadra and Schopenhauer". Master's Thesis in Islamic Philosophy and Wisdom, Qom University: Faculty of Theology and Islamic Teachings. [In Persian]
Dehghanpour, Alireza. 2011. "The Meaning of Life from Mulla Sadra's Viewpoint". PhD Dissertation in Teaching Islamic Studies, Baqir al-Ulum University: Faculty of Theology and Islamic Teachings. [In Persian]
Hoseinpour Tonekaboni, R., Jahangir Masoudi, and Mortaza Hoseini Shahrudi. 2021. “Making Meanings or Discovering Meanings? A Study, Assessment, and Reconciliation of the Views of Irvin Yalom and Viktor Frankl about the Meaningfulness of Life in the Context of Philosophical Therapy.” Philosophia and Theologia: Dialogues in Criticism and Reflection 26(104): 156-185. doi: 10.22081/jpt.2021.60425.1828 [In Persian]
Hoseinpour Tonekaboni, R., Jahangir Masoudi, and Mortaza Hoseini Shahrudi. 2022. “The Semantic, and Ontological Explanation of "Existential Isolation" in Existential Psychotherapy and Transcendent Theosophy and Presenting Its Approaches from Ervin D. Yalom and Mulla Sadra.” Philosophia and Theologia: Dialogues in Criticism and Reflection 27(107): 7-31. doi: 10.22081/jpt.2021.61119.1846 [In Persian]
Ithari, R. 2023. “An Examination of Freedom and Responsibility in the Thought of Allameh Tabatabai and Irvin Yalom”. Master's Thesis, Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Shahid Rajai Teacher Training University: Faculty of Humanities. [In Persian]
Jabbare Nasero, M. 2016. “A Philosophical Analysis and Explanation of the Concept of Death in Augustine and Mulla Sadra”. PhD Thesis in Comparative Philosophy, Qom University: Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies. [In Persian]
Masumi, S. S. (2018). “Death and Solitude from the Viewpoint of Irvin Yalom”. Master's thesis, Western Philosophy, Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch, Vali Asr (A.S.) University Complex: Faculty of Literature and Humanities. [In Persian]
Mazaheri, H., and Amir Abbas Ali Zamani. 2018. “A Study Regarding Confronting the Pain of Existential Loneliness in Irvin Yalom’s Ideas and the Mystical Pain of Separation in Molavi’s View.” Journal of Philosophical Theological Research 20(4): 70-91. doi: 10.22091/pfk.2017.1833.1582 [In Persian]
Mohammadi, L. 2022. “A Comparison of Albert Camus's and Gabriel Marcel's Views on Existential Suffering and Its Relationship with God”. Master's Thesis, University of Tehran: Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies. [In Persian]
Pour Akbar, L. 2020. “A Comparative Study of the Meaning of Life from the Viewpoints of Ibn Sina, Mulla Sadra, and Irvin Yalom”. PhD Thesis, Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Shahid Rajai Teacher Training University: Faculty of Humanities. [In Persian]
Qaleh, E. 2018. “The Meaning of Life from the Perspectives of Mulla Sadra and Irvin Yalom”. Master's Thesis in Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Al-Zahra University: Faculty of Theology. [In Persian]
Rastegar, A. 2025. "Designing and Compiling a Model to Solve Human Existential Challenges Based on Islamic Philosophy". PhD Thesis in Islamic Philosophy and Kalam, Islamic Azad University, Sabzevar Branch. [In Persian]
Ross, Stephen, M. Agrawal, R.R. Griffiths, C. Grob, A. Berger, and J.E. Henningfield. 2022. “Psychedelic-assisted Psychotherapy to Treat Psychiatric and Existential Distress in Life-threatening Medical Illnesses and Palliative Care”. Neuropharmacology 216.
Saberi Varzaneh, H., and Qorban Elmi. 2018. “The Faithful's Recourse to God in Response to Existential Risk.” Environmental Risk Management 5(1): 53-66. [In Persian]
Shami Nezhad, M. 2022. “A Comparison of Yalom's and Mulla Sadra's Foundations and Strategies in Dealing with Death Anxiety”. PhD Thesis in Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Zanjan University: Faculty of Humanities. [In Persian]
Shams Kupaei, F. 2022. “Philosophical Psychotherapy: A Case Study of Loneliness and Meaninglessness from Yalom's Perspective”. Master's Thesis in Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Meybod University: Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies. [In Persian]
Vos. J. 2023. “Existential Psychological Therapies: An Overview of Empirical Research”. Pratiques Psychologiques 29(4): 211-229.
Philosophy of Religion Research
Volume 23, Issue 2 - Serial Number 46
December 2025
Pages 155-180