Finding the underlying values common to existentialists allows an understanding of the basic substructure of existential philosophy. These foundations of existentialism can be translated into an existential theory of ethics which holds at its center the tenet that all beings must be free in order to posses the essence of being. From this concept come the dictates of an existential ethic. The first and most vital of these dictates is the idea of personal commitment. Existential commitment requires constant thought, expression, and action to develop personal essence.
Faith is the simplest example of existential action.
Kierkegaard explores faith through his discussion of Christianity. Faced with the knowledge that Christianity provides no secure argument for the existence of God, the believer must make a choice to believe despite the irrationality of such a decision. Christian commitment is personal, passionate, and demands constant reconsideration and reaffirmation. It is a dynamic, rather than a passive belief. Faith is precisely the contradiction between the infinite passion of inwardness and objective uncertainty.