Belief in God ensures that no loss is inconsolable, no injustice unrequited, and that we can finally have everlasting peace, no matter the misery gone through to get there.įor Nietzsche, then, there is a natural explanation for belief in God. Belief in God also provides hope that when our loved ones pass away we can live with them again for eternity. For many, belief in God provides strength to endure such misery. From antiquity to today most people turn to God when awful tragedies happen – for example, when loved ones are gunned down by active shooters, trapped in cities bombarded by hurricanes, or diagnosed with cancer. The idea of God emerges to provide light in a dark world. Under such immense duress, it’s perfectly reasonable for them to find some reason to explain suffering and hope that those responsible for suffering will be punished. The ancient Israelites, who brought forward the Judeo-Christian God, lived in horrible conditions: for many generations, they were enslaved, beaten, and killed. What is Nietzsche’s justification for claiming that God is a fiction? The answer lies in the function of the idea of God.Īccording to Nietzsche, the idea of God was created to help people handle widespread and seemingly senseless suffering. This essay will help us understand this claim, his arguments for it, and its potential implications for contemporary religious and ethical thought. Thus, God “dies” when there is no good reason to believe that God exists. Nietzsche’s claim, however, is that “God” is a fiction created by human beings. God is supposed to be eternal, and thus cannot die. What does this mean? Straightforwardly, it seems nonsensical. He writes, “God is dead! God remains dead! And we have killed him!” (GS 125). Nietzsche is perhaps most famous for making the striking claim that God is dead. Categories: Phenomenology and Existentialism Philosophy of Religion Ethics Historical Philosophy
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