Absurdity in Albert Camus's Philosophy and Catholic Celibacy: Freedom, Fidelity, and Existential Rebellion

Catholic celibacy presented tensions among religious commitment, human existential needs, and transcendent hope. Previous studies primarily emphasized psychological and spiritual dimensions, while philosophical analyses drawing on Albert Camus's concept of absurdity remained limited. This study aimed to analyze Camus's concepts of absurdity and existential rebellion and reinterpret their relevance to freedom and fidelity in Catholic celibacy. The study employed a qualitative approach through library research and philosophical textual analysis. The researchers examined Camus's works and John Paul II's Theology of the Body using textual-hermeneutic analysis, comparative analysis, and philosophical-theological synthesis. The findings demonstrated that the symbolism of Sisyphus provided an analogical framework for understanding Catholic celibacy through awareness of human limitations, freedom to sustain commitment, and perseverance in ministry. However, Camus's rebellion rejected transcendent resolutions to absurdity, whereas Catholic celibacy rested on faith and eschatological hope. The study concluded that these perspectives shared certain dimensions of existential experience but differed in their metaphysical foundations. Within Catholic celibacy, fidelity emerged as a conscious and responsible commitment that retained its theological orientation. The study contributed an analogical-critical interpretive framework that extended the relevance of Camus's philosophy to philosophical-theological discussions of freedom, fidelity, and meaning in religious life.