N/A 20260712092928 London Academy of Iranian Studies philosophy@iranianstudies.org London Academy of Iranian Studies Transcendent Philosophy: An International Journal For Comparative Philosophy And Mysticism Transcendent Philosophy 1471-3217 2025 26 37 Paul Gutteridge Honorary Fellow, Edward Cadbury Centre, University of Birmingham Existential nihilism, marked by a profound crisis of meaning, increasingly characterises contemporary many Western societies. This can manifest as individual despair, social fragmentation, and geopolitical tension. This essay integrates Viktor Frankl’s existential psychology (Logotherapy) with insights from Christianity and Islamic Sufi mysticism, to address nihilism effectively. I build upon Carl Jung’s symbolic spirituality, Alfred Adler’s community-focused psychology to Frankl’s existential work. I aim to demonstrate how Frankl’s framework uniquely integrates psychological rigour with spiritual meaning. Mystical traditions from Christian and Sufi practices—particularly contemplative prayer and dhikr—can add to Frankl’s existential approach, viewing suffering as transformative rather than meaningless. The essay centres on a dialogue between Frankl’s existential therapy and the teachings of Sufi thinkers like Rumi and Al-Ghazali. Drawing on my background, I suggest that such existential-spiritual engagement offers vital tools for fostering understanding, social cohesion, and peacebuilding. Abraham Kuyper’s helpful concept of sphere sovereignty and recent findings on rising Church attendance among young adults in the UK, highlight possible responses to nihilism. I suggest practical pathways for contemporary psychotherapy, interfaith understanding, diplomatic engagement, and community resilience - advocating for talks grounded in shared human experiences of meaning, transcendence, compassion, and unity. 2025 128 145 pending https://iranianstudies.org/transcendent_philosophy/volume-26-number-37/from-nihilism-to-meaning-bridging-viktor-frankls-existential-work-with-christianity-and-sufi-mysticism-for-intercultural-dialogue-and-geopolitical-peacebuilding