Nihilism is argued philosophically and to no avail simply because its value can only be appreciated in the context of human consciousness and awakening which is the realm of the essence of religion.
Nihilism asserts that values are baseless and that nothing is really known or can be communicated.
Nietzsche spoke of it and went as far as to say that since our highest values lack the understanding of “why”, Without an aim derived from true understanding, values cannot have any true meaning so the tendency then of nihilism is , from “Will and Power”, “not only the belief that everything deserves to perish; but one actually puts one’s shoulder to the plough; one destroys”
This can be argued until the end of time because it is essentially true for us. It will be always argued from our own subjective states of right and wrong and a void in mutual understanding.
The advantage of the essence of religion over argument is that it begins with nihilism rather than denying it. It begins with accepting that we do not and cannot understand the objective structure and order of the world. We lack the consciousness and self knowledge necessary to rise above nihilism.
So instead of arguing philosophical and subjective interpretations, the essence of religion stresses the importance of “Awakening”. The process of awakening gradually reveals the truths not appreciable by us in our normal unawakened life.
Where do values come from? How did they originate? As I’ve come to understand it, values exist as the midpoint between what entered into our world as conscious knowledge and how it has been adapted unconsciously by human reactions where imagination has taken the place of consciousness. Naturally then at times values can appear attractive as an ideal but the nature of our “being”, lacking consciousness, cannot put values into any sort of lasting direction leading to disappointment , frustration, and nihilism.
So from the philosophical perspective, part of the joy of nihilism is in the beauty of the artistic expression of its lamentations. However from the perspective of the essence of religion, the question becomes how to “awaken” to the objective reality of meaning and purpose leading to outgrowing nihilism through “understanding” the human condition and its conscious potential rather than arguing over it…