"God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers?" ~Friedrich Nietzsche

Friedrich Nietzsche wrote this in 1882 as an observation that the role of religion is in decline. More and more people are becoming nihilstic and suffering from existential crisis. This shift in society can be further studied in Camus' magnus opus, "The stranger".

In Albert Camus' novel "The Stranger," the protagonist, Meursault, has a conversation with a chaplain, a religious figure, in the final part of the novel. This encounter is significant in the context of the novel's exploration of existential themes and the character of Meursault.

During the conversation with the chaplain, Meursault is on death row, awaiting his execution. The chaplain attempts to engage Meursault in a discussion about God, repentance, and the afterlife. However, Meursault, who has been portrayed as indifferent to conventional morality and societal expectations throughout the novel, remains true to his existential stance.

Meursault rejects the chaplain's attempts to provide religious comfort or salvation. He expresses his own existential perspective, emphasizing his acceptance of the inevitability of death and his rejection of any false hopes or illusions. Meursault's refusal to conform to religious beliefs highlights his commitment to living authentically and facing the absurdity of life and death without seeking solace in external systems of meaning.

This scene serves as a climax to Meursault's existential journey, reinforcing his philosophical stance in the face of death. The novel as a whole is often seen as a critique of societal norms, moral conventions, and the quest for meaning in an indifferent universe. The conversation with the chaplain encapsulates these themes and contributes to the novel's overall existentialist message.