Post #7: Nietzsche

Write up an analysis on the selected passages: label the passage and give a brief summary and analysis (interpretation) of it.

Death of God
Nietzsche questions whether people realize they have killed God. With the breakthroughs in science and advancements of reason, God has lost his appeal to man. Or was there no longer any need? What now, what are they to do? The figure of God had been a guiding light for all of humanity since time memorial. God has been the unifying figure and the provider of morality. Now that he is dead, who is to lead? His killers, of course.

Truth
Knowledge is a tool of deceit. In nature it has no use; in civilization it has no real use as well. Mankind has misused the gift it was given. What mankind has done to knowledge is use it as means of self-deception. It is a prop for man’s vanity. It is no wonder that when that rare individual comes out and speaks the truth we call him a liar. Even in his dream state does man continue the charade, continues the lies of self-deception. With all this knowledge that man possesses he still chooses to be ignorant.

Morality as Anti-Nature
There are passions and then there is “stupidity in passions.” It is unfortunate that “stupidity in passions” has decided that passions are no longer needed. The war on passion can be traced to Christianity. The church is incapable of intelligently ridding the world of passion because it does not adhere to intelligence. Instead, it will make passion appear ugly so that it could weed it out of the church and out of our lives. Has anyone noticed that the passions the church wishes to weed out are those that natural to our life?

The church was us to be contrary to our nature. It wants all of humanity to follow the lead of a small group of men who turned to God to help them control their passions. Moderation is for the strong willed. Passion will always be the devil if you are too weak to control it.

Jesus
The Gospels are different. There is no “guilt and punishment,” no “sin,” and no “reward.” “God and man” have united. Eternal bliss is now a reality. The Christian was different because he lived differently. He did not fight, he was accepting, he would not anger, he hated no one, he wasn’t litigious yet he was disobedient, and he would never leave a loved one. This is how he lived, this how he died. He was closer to God by doing away with the formula. The Christian taught us what salvation was by living it. “A new way of life, not a new faith.” “Glass tiding,” indeed.

He lived not to save but to teach. His life was the lesson bestowed unto man. Not once did his demeanor change, not even in the face of adversity. He did not struggle, he invited. He was compassionate, humble, and loving.

Paul
The Jesus of faith is a lie invented to destroy the life of the historical Jesus. What Jesus had done away with has now returned. The unity of God and man no longer exists. “Glass tidings” no more. His living example corrupted. A life with God traded for an afterlife with God. Immortality is now the reward, rather than unity with God. Paul is responsible for spreading the word.

Only now can one see what died when Jesus was put to death. The example was real. Look no further than to Paul for the turn. Where Jesus was a man of love, Paul is man of hate. Paul needed the death to distort the life. Paul corrupted history. Paul traded the life of Jesus for the death of Jesus. Paul used Jesus’ death for his own means and ends. He traded the life of Jesus for power. This was Paul’s gift to the world.

Myth of Eternal Recurrence
Remorse is for the stupid. Although life is “indestructibly powerful and pleasurable,” it never changes. It is always the same. Would you live your life over? Exactly as it is? With no change whatsoever? How well prepared are you for that possibility? Are you accepting of yourself and the life you live? This is your eternity over an infinite period of time. I want to share with you my thoughts. I have a great idea I want to share. Eternity is recurring and eternal. There is no escape. Ever. If you are accepting of this idea, you are free. Gone are a lot of the old traps. You are free. You are strong. In you, we shall create the superman.

Free Spirit
The notion that “God is Dead” is just now starting to spread. There remain those who can’t believe, won’t believe that “God is Dead.” For them, the news has not arrived or the do not understand. It requires them to lose faith. There those of us who have waited for this day. Why is it that we have no fear? Why is it that we have no worry? Could it be because we understand the implications? Freedom has arrived. Gone are the restraints of the “old god.” The possibilities are endless. Life is now full of potential. The rule of ignorance has lost its hold on us. Enter a new reign of knowledge. Let us embark our journey through the “open sea.”