Ideas of Nietzsche on Religion - Essay Example

April 26, 2007 Why Does Nietzsche Say That God Is Dead How Does It Affect Humanity Although Nietzsche is credited with the ment that "God is dead", it was actually one of his fictional characters who made the statement, not Nietzsche himself. This statement has caught the attention of some of his readers. What does this statement mean to the rest of us humans who have to deal with having heard it Why did Nietzsche have a lunatic say the words How does it affect modern society Doubtless, Nietzsche sought to find another source of human values, some source deeper than the Christian faiths.

He saw Christianity as having no philosophical system on which to base our lives. Thus, he believed that Christianity has a tendency to limit the creativity of man. Nietzsche's statement about God's death did not quickly change the course of history. The Christian churches still exist, just as he prophesied they would, at least for a few hundred years. Nietzsche said, "God is dead; but given the way of men, though there still may be caves for thousands of years in which his shadow will be shown.

" (Section 108) Perhaps he had a madman elicit the words because he believes that we humans destroyed God ourselves by our life styles. (Nietzsche Section 125) Any value system based on Christianity or other metaphysical element will become protective of its teachings and consider nonbelievers to be unworthy of being listened to. Yet, Nietzsche, himself, said the same words himself later, in the same book. (wikipedia) Although Nietzsche's words have been heard around the world, the effect is somewhat weak.

Metaphysics still are a mainstay to most of the world's peoples. Still, some of his ideas seem to be developing. Science, without any religion attached, tends to make men feel that there is no limit to what can be done. They do it in the name of science, not any metaphysical force. To a degree, humanity is becoming more godlike as time goes on. Nietzsche seemed to believe that a lot of time would pass before man feels that he is in control and does not need a god any longer. No doubt, many more centuries will be needed to either verify or nullify the ideas of Nietzsche, or of the madman who made the declaration that "God is dead".

Name 3Works CitedNietzsche, The Gay Science, Section 108, tr. Walter Kaufmannhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_is_deadFriedrich Nietzsche, The Gay Science (1882, 1887) para. 125; Walter Kaufmann ed. (New York: Vintage, 1974), pp. 181-82