War has a profound effect on society, producing nihilism that survivors carry back with them. Among the psychological impacts of war, fear combined with cynicism stands out as the most significant, driving individuals to prioritize personal security. This intense self-centeredness pushes people to act in ways that focus on self-preservation above all else. War compels individuals to seize any opportunity for hope, often leading to a collapse of moral values. Chastity is frequently abandoned as people adopt a mindset of taking advantage while they can, further eroding the essence of love and loyalty within families. When examining the broader influences, it becomes clear that each contributes to the same destructive tendencies—narcissism, nihilism, and self-centeredness—tearing families apart and making individuals unwilling to make the sacrifices necessary for strong family bonds. The long-range effect of these combined influences is a consistent downward trend in morality, as self-concern becomes sharply heightened, preventing moral standards from returning to their previous levels.

Many individuals who reject God face life with the belief that they originated from nothing and are heading toward a similar void. This nihilism fosters existential behavior, where they live solely for the present moment, lacking hope or assurance of future existence. Such people feel accountable only to themselves or perhaps the state, but not to any higher power. When their lives begin to unravel—through soured relationships, loss of employment, or disaster—they often have nowhere to turn. Some may reconsider their atheism and seek religion, but many remain so disillusioned with spirituality that any concept of a deity is repugnant to them. Instead, they might rely on psychiatry, science, medicine, law, or government, yet these human endeavors prove as insubstantial as a mirage. Ultimately, they stand alone in their struggles.

Nihilism, in its essence, is the belief that human existence is senseless and without purpose. It posits that there is no life before birth or after death, only the present moment with no ultimate meaning. According to this view, we were not, we are, and we will not be, contrasting sharply with the eternal nature of God who was, is, and always will be. Those who adhere to nihilism often live in extremes: some indulge in hedonism, embracing fleeting pleasures with the attitude of eating, drinking, and being merry, for tomorrow they die, seeing no reason for ethics or morality since there is no Higher Power to hold them accountable. Others fall into fatalistic despair, overwhelmed by gloom and depression, finding no purpose in life and sometimes turning to dark deeds or the occult out of desperation, even to the point of suicide. If God did not enforce the penalty for sin through the third resurrection and the Lake of Fire, it could lead to a nihilistic outcome where individuals might commit wicked acts without fear of consequence, believing they could escape justice by death alone. Such a scenario would undermine fairness, especially to those who have struggled against their nature to attain eternal life. Without the resurrection of the wicked for judgment, there would be no deterrent, allowing one to evade accountability for sins, which could foster a mindset akin to nihilism where actions bear no ultimate weight. God's justice, however, demands that all face their judgment, ensuring that no one escapes the consequences of their choices, thus providing a stark contrast to the nihilistic belief in a meaningless existence.