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Friedrich Nietzsches succinct criticisms of Christianity

dfnj

Well-Known Member
There is a reason why Christianity is not as popular as it was 500 years ago. During the last 200 years there has been an industrial and spiritual revolution all around the World. And one of the most important philosophers and writers during that period is Friedrich Nietzsche. Friedrich Nietzsche is a key philosopher in understanding the World zeitgeist and how the value system of the masses has change.

Below is a very good 12 minute video introduction into the works of Friedrich Nietzsche. It's not the Friedrich Nietzsche was actually an atheist per se but he certainly provides an intellectual context for being an atheist.

The video gets what being an atheist means a little off. Being an atheist simply means not having a belief in God. Being an atheist does not mean denying the existence of God although practically every theists who cares about what atheists think would claim. For most atheists, what it means to be an atheist, is simply not having a belief in God because there is no easily agreeable evidence supporting such a belief.

The video however does a really good job giving you insight into Friedrich Nietzsche brilliant criticism of the way the human mind works and the importance of programming our subjective experiences based on our moral values:


Friedrich Nietzsche had some acute criticisms of Christianity. He said Christianity was born in response to Roman oppression. It took hold in the minds of timid slaves who did not have the courage or strength to take what they really wanted. The slaves could not admit to their own failings. So they clung to a philosophy that made virtue of cowardice. Everything the Christians wanted and wished they had in their lives for fulfillment was considered to be a sin. A position in the world, prestige, good sex, intellectual mastery, personal wealth were too difficult or beyond their reach. The Christian slaves created a hypocritical creed denouncing what they really wanted but were incapable of achieving while praising what they did not want was being virtuous. So in the Christian value system sexlessness turned into 'purity', weakness became "goodness," submission to authority became "obedience," and in Nietzsche's words, "not-being-able-take-revenge" turned into "forgiveness." A Christian slave was too weak to have any personal voice and was only capable of bending a knee to whoever was in authority.

This idea that being a submissive slave to authority is somehow sacred is hard for me to accept. I just can't help be think this whole way of being is somehow a way to manipulate the masses in accepting rule by monarchy which is in many ways against their own selfish self-interests.

Nietzsche pointed out God is dead because compared to previous cultures, God is not the central part of modern life. I don't think Nietzsche was altogether anti-God but more interesting is the problems people where having with Christianity and the idea of God.

Popular Nietzsche Books
 

Kemosloby

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
What a low quality post. Did you even watch the video? Did you find this offensive? What exactly do you think is garbage?

I did watch it. I think the beginning explains it. Just some madman trying to make sense of the world, mixing in a few crazy ideas, put in an organized format. Probably a lot had to do with hallucinogenic toxins in his body from the syphilis bacteria.
 

socharlie

Active Member
There is a reason why Christianity is not as popular as it was 500 years ago. During the last 200 years there has been an industrial and spiritual revolution all around the World. And one of the most important philosophers and writers during that period is Friedrich Nietzsche. Friedrich Nietzsche is a key philosopher in understanding the World zeitgeist and how the value system of the masses has change.

Below is a very good 12 minute video introduction into the works of Friedrich Nietzsche. It's not the Friedrich Nietzsche was actually an atheist per se but he certainly provides an intellectual context for being an atheist.

The video gets what being an atheist means a little off. Being an atheist simply means not having a belief in God. Being an atheist does not mean denying the existence of God although practically every theists who cares about what atheists think would claim. For most atheists, what it means to be an atheist, is simply not having a belief in God because there is no easily agreeable evidence supporting such a belief.

The video however does a really good job giving you insight into Friedrich Nietzsche brilliant criticism of the way the human mind works and the importance of programming our subjective experiences based on our moral values:


Friedrich Nietzsche had some acute criticisms of Christianity. He said Christianity was born in response to Roman oppression. It took hold in the minds of timid slaves who did not have the courage or strength to take what they really wanted. The slaves could not admit to their own failings. So they clung to a philosophy that made virtue of cowardice. Everything the Christians wanted and wished they had in their lives for fulfillment was considered to be a sin. A position in the world, prestige, good sex, intellectual mastery, personal wealth were too difficult or beyond their reach. The Christian slaves created a hypocritical creed denouncing what they really wanted but were incapable of achieving while praising what they did not want was being virtuous. So in the Christian value system sexlessness turned into 'purity', weakness became "goodness," submission to authority became "obedience," and in Nietzsche's words, "not-being-able-take-revenge" turned into "forgiveness." A Christian slave was too weak to have any personal voice and was only capable of bending a knee to whoever was in authority.

This idea that being a submissive slave to authority is somehow sacred is hard for me to accept. I just can't help be think this whole way of being is somehow a way to manipulate the masses in accepting rule by monarchy which is in many ways against their own selfish self-interests.

Nietzsche pointed out God is dead because compared to previous cultures, God is not the central part of modern life. I don't think Nietzsche was altogether anti-God but more interesting is the problems people where having with Christianity and the idea of God.

Popular Nietzsche Books
if one wants to understand Astral world/God and how it operates one
needs to look into Rudolf Steiner and similar people.
 

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
Just some madman trying to make sense of the world, mixing in a few crazy ideas, put in an organized format.
Before he became ill, Nietzsche wrote his more influential work. He was also regarded as a very brilliant man, and even as a child he was regarded for his intelligence.
Probably a lot had to do with hallucinogenic toxins in his body from the syphilis bacteria.
There is no actual proof he had syphilis, and his descent into madness does not follow the path of syphilis.
 

David T

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
I did watch it. I think the beginning explains it. Just some madman trying to make sense of the world, mixing in a few crazy ideas, put in an organized format. Probably a lot had to do with hallucinogenic toxins in his body from the syphilis bacteria.
Which really just makes him very religious without God. A kind of creationism meets intelligent design to a kind of a fantasy of the divine. Nietczhe never left the building. His jackals is pure modern Christianity no sense.
 

Kemosloby

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Which really just makes him very religious without God. A kind of creationism meets intelligent design to a kind of a fantasy of the divine. Nietczhe never left the building. His jackals is pure modern Christianity no sense.

Where he talks about people becoming like superman is certainly a Christian thing. Except it comes about in a different manner. At the resurrection people are raised up in a superhuman form, similar to what he is imagining.

1 cor 15:52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
 

dfnj

Well-Known Member
I did watch it. I think the beginning explains it. Just some madman trying to make sense of the world, mixing in a few crazy ideas, put in an organized format. Probably a lot had to do with hallucinogenic toxins in his body from the syphilis bacteria.

Gee, I wished I talked to you first I could have saved 12 minutes of my life. Although, the video had nothing to do with what you are talking about and I thought his ideas were brilliant.
 

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
Where he talks about people becoming like superman is certainly a Christian thing. Except it comes about in a different manner. At the resurrection people are raised up in a superhuman form, similar to what he is imagining.
That would not qualify as an example of the ubermensch, as the ubermensch has transcended such conventional morality.
I thought his ideas were brilliant.
Nietzsche is a philosopher I love, hate, love to hate, and hate to love. The video was a good nutshelled brief summary of some of the parts of Nietzsche I'm pretty fond of, such as embracing life and also not taking it so seriously. And living life so when that demon does tell you that you will relive this moment a million times over there is no wailing and gnashing of teeth but rather take joy in knowing that your life has been worth living. Kind of a "beyond the examined life."
Too bad though it didn't include more about Nietzsche's love of art.
 

Kemosloby

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
That would not qualify as an example of the ubermensch, as the ubermensch has transcended such conventional morality.

Nietzsche is a philosopher I love, hate, love to hate, and hate to love. The video was a good nutshelled brief summary of some of the parts of Nietzsche I'm pretty fond of, such as embracing life and also not taking it so seriously. And living life so when that demon does tell you that you will relive this moment a million times over there is no wailing and gnashing of teeth but rather take joy in knowing that your life has been worth living. Kind of a "beyond the examined life."
Too bad though it didn't include more about Nietzsche's love of art.

An Ubermensch could make an interesting sci-fiction character, that's about it. Weren't those on Star Trek?
 

David T

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Where he talks about people becoming like superman is certainly a Christian thing. Except it comes about in a different manner. At the resurrection people are raised up in a superhuman form, similar to what he is imagining.

1 cor 15:52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
Yep. All one has to do is read John Muir. If ya get Muir you will realize nietzche is exactly like Muir except he never got out no breathing eventually he spun into himself. Muir walked out of civilization never to return and occasionally sent postcards to civilization. They have the exact same neurology it just articulates into insanity culture nietzche or sanity nature Muir that is all. It has to do a lot with neurology but also choices understanding everything. Nietzche was a very very stupid genius. He forgot about nature.

What really got nietzche was his greatest fear. That he would become like his father. And because of that fear he became his father.
 
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dfnj

Well-Known Member
An Ubermensch could make an interesting sci-fiction character, that's about it. Weren't those on Star Trek?

The Ubermensch is a vision of an ideal. I think what is more interesting is the idea when you take your own character weaknesses and turn them into something virtuous. So rather than fight back it became a virtue to be submissive to authority. A Christian slave was too weak to have any personal voice and was only capable of bending a knee to whoever was in authority. Nietzsche was emphasizing the importance of having a personal will to power and not giving into imaginary virtues.
 

dfnj

Well-Known Member
Yep. All one has to do is read John Muir. If ya get Muir you will realize nietzche is exactly like Muir except he never got out no breathing eventually he spun into himself. Muir walked out of civilization never to return and occasionally sent postcards to civilization. They have the exact same neurology it just articulates into insanity culture nietzche or sanity nature Muir that is all. It has to do a lot with neurology but also choices understanding everything. Nietzche was a very very stupid genius. He forgot about nature.

The problem with being too much in tune with nature is you have no boundaries of self. You become incapable of accomplishing anything meaningful because you become lost or mesmerized by all nature's myriad of forms and beauty. Sometimes it is better to cut oneself off from nature and just stand for some kind of ideal that is bigger than one's own personal experience with the oneness of everything.
 

Kemosloby

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
The Ubermensch is a vision of an ideal. I think what is more interesting is the idea when you take your own character weaknesses and turn them into something virtuous. So rather than fight back it became a virtue to be submissive to authority. A Christian slave was too weak to have any personal voice and was only capable of bending a knee to whoever was in authority. Nietzsche was emphasizing the importance of having a personal will to power and not giving into imaginary virtues.

Easy for him to say since he wasn't the one in chains. Christianity teaches respect for authority is a good thing. How would we have civilization without a government? Basically Nietzche didn't want anyone telling him anything so he created his own imaginary world to his own liking, with the help of some syphilis bacteria.

2 Peter 2:10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings;
 

David T

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
The problem with being too much in tune with nature is you have no boundaries of self. You become incapable of accomplishing anything meaningful because you become lost or mesmerized by all nature's myriad of forms and beauty. Sometimes it is better to cut oneself off from nature and just stand for some kind of ideal that is bigger than one's own personal experience with the oneness of everything.
Muir accomplished nothing. Yep total lollygagered. Please...nietztche accomplished one single thing danger if you do not pay attention to nature. Not a single thing more.
 
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dfnj

Well-Known Member
Easy for him to say since he wasn't the one in chains. Christianity teaches respect for authority is a good thing. How would we have civilization without a government? Basically Nietzche didn't want anyone telling him anything so he created his own imaginary world to his own liking, with the help of some syphilis bacteria.

2 Peter 2:10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings;

I don't think religion and government are the same thing. There are different forms of government. Some governments are authoritarian in nature. Some governments are more egalitarian in nature. I would prefer to come to a round table in fellowship, federation, and with equality. You seem to prefer submission to authority by bending your knee to other people's wills.

Having a religion that teaches being submissive to authority is a virtue is exactly the criticism Nietzsche was making. Your problem is you do not want to take any responsibility for your own weaknesses. So instead of willing yourself to power as Nietzsche is suggesting, you are claiming it is a virtue to be submissive to authority.

I think we will just have to disagree on this point. I do not think it is virtue to be submissive to authority. You can be reverent to God without being submissive to authority. This obsession with obedience seems slightly sado-masochistic to me. I do not believe our God of love is a sadist. I do not think our omnipotent God requires us to worship Him. Are you suggesting our omnipotent God is somehow lacking in something that is requires to be worshiped?
 

Kemosloby

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
I don't think religion and government are the same thing. There are different forms of government. Some governments are authoritarian in nature. Some governments are more egalitarian in nature. I would prefer to come to a round table in fellowship, federation, and with equality. You seem to prefer submission to authority by bending your knee to other people's wills.

Having a religion that teaches being submissive to authority is a virtue is exactly the criticism Nietzsche was making. Your problem is you do not want to take any responsibility for your own weaknesses. So instead of willing yourself to power as Nietzsche is suggesting, you are claiming it is a virtue to be submissive to authority.

I think we will just have to disagree on this point. I do not think it is virtue to be submissive to authority. You can be reverent to God without being submissive to authority. This obsession with obedience seems slightly sado-masochistic to me. I do not believe our God of love is a sadist. I do not think our omnipotent God requires us to worship Him. Are you suggesting our omnipotent God is somehow lacking in something that is requires to be worshiped?

You seem to be brainwashed by Neitsche. When you stop at a stop sign or red light you submit to authority. Do you think it's a good idea to run stop signs or red lights?
 

Subduction Zone

Veteran Member
Though the whole piece is worth listening too here is a well known piece that is a tone poem on Nietzsche's Zarathustra:


The piece needs a nice stereo system with a good subwoofer if you want to listen to it properly.
 
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