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Nietzsche's Influence On Religion

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Friedrich Nietzsche’s “Thus Spake Zarathustra,” is often considered his magnum opus, exploring many of the ideas that Nietzsche had earlier mentioned in works like “The Gay Science,” and “Beyond Good and Evil.” Nietzsche reveals his thoughts on many matters through the character of Zarathustra, a philosopher beyond mankind. One of the most famous parables that Zarathustra utters is “God is dead,” and through these words, Nietzsche exposes the historical context in which he lived, the idea of mankind superseding God as a supreme being, and the resulting fear of nihilism that derives from that trend (Nietzsche, 1999, p. 3). Ultimately, these words do not reveal Nietzsche to be an atheist but rather reflect the position of the author in regards …show more content…
In this, one could also see complacency and the rejection of advancement. In speaking to the marketplace, Zarathustra highlights his fear of inertia, discussing the “last man” (Nietzsche, 1999, p. 7). This will be a man who only wants comfort and desires no conflict or self-improvement. To Zarathustra’s horror, the marketplace overwhelmingly wants to be this man. This is a true example of the nihilism that can come with the death of God. For if there is no life-eternal, then one would prefer earthly comforts with no risk of moral judgment. Although Zarathustra discourses against the preachers of death, because “hardly are they born when they begin to die, and long for doctrines of lassitude and renunciation” (Nietzsche, 1999, p. 27). At least, these people are guarded against the rejection of social mores for they believe that they have a heaven coming in the afterlife, or they fear the possible hell. These people are complacent in their acceptance of the fetters of religion but they strive for moral perfection and therefore are not static. The religious populace also revels in the equality that death brings, saying to the higher men that, “there are no higher men, we are all equal; man is man, before God – we are all equal” (Nietzsche, 1999, p. 204). And if all are equal in death, there is a motivation for all to be better in life. With the elimination of God, man becomes the sole judge, and therefore power becomes more important than morality. The populace could be under the control of a tyrant or dictator, one who desires simply earthly pleasures, as death is truly final. Therefore, the pope says to Zarathustra, “mine old heart leapeth and boundeth because there is still something to adore on earth” (Nietzsche, 1999, p. 225). They had found a pagan God and this God guaranteed a moral anchor in the cosmic swirl. However, the people had tasted the power of men

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