Nietzsche 'TSZ'

The first conflict that is identified is the ascetic tradition which Christianity believes, and a ‘love of humanity’, which Nietzsche believes. We are faced with this in Zarathustra’s discourse with the saint. The saint believes that a ‘love of God’ is paramount to his existence, whilst Zarathustra believes that ‘love of man’ should qualify his existence:

‘‘Mankind I do not love. Man is too imperfect a thing for me. Love of man would destroy me.’ Zarathustra answered: ‘What did I say of love? I am bringing mankind a gift.’’

The saint believes wholeheartedly in God, but with this love, comes a rejection of oneself and others, which is important in Catholicism (more importantly to Nietzsche, Lutheranism). According to the Genesis, mankind is essentially fallen as a result of original sin - in order for one to receive any grace or salvation, one must first repent. Therefore, if a love of God is a priority (as for the saint), this entails self-renunciation, and antipathy towards imperfect man. To this end, it seems asceticism - self denial and abstinence from pleasure - is being attacked,

‘‘There is nothing greater on earth than I, the regulating finger of God’ – thus the monster [state] bellows.’

In addition to the herd instinct that can apply to Christianity, the state too is criticised. ‘The state is the coldest of cold monsters’ is a nihilistic statement that rejects the entire notion of society. Nietzsche believes that with any organised group, be it with religion, or the state, the herd will triumph under the banner of Christianity or Democracy, and shall produce its own standards, its own morals that suit the needs of the group at a particular time:

Zarathustra states; ‘Uncanny is human existence and still without meaning.’ How therefore does man seek meaning? Schopenhauer believes that what is in our noumenal world (or the world outside our empirical senses), is what man is trying to find as a source for meaning. This search for external reality (and meaning) is what Schopenhauer calls the ‘will’, which is, ‘the source of all suffering, and [it] cannot bring contentment, only further desire,’ because as humans we are limited, and can never see into this metaphysical reality. Schopenhauer therefore preaches that we are consumed by non-achievable passions, which result only in suffering – Zarathustra states: ‘Life is only suffering’ – in light of this, humankind will revolt, and will find that in God there is meaning in life; justifies the afterlife, hence for the majority, Christianity is not merely important, but necessary.

as it inhibits our strengths and abilities to live a fulfilling (as Nietzsche saw it) life and emphasises our weaknesses, with self punishment. For example, according to asceticism, if I deny pleasure during this life, in the belief of eternal grace in the afterlife, then death is the only path to salvation. This postulation leads to Christianity being an anti-life religion, against humanity – this aspect of Christianity, we must reject.

‘Slave ethics’, which is prevalent in Christianity, includes virtues such as pity, obedienc

Some topics in this essay:
Karl Marx’s, According Genesis, Spanish Inquisition, Zarathustra’ Nietzsche’s, Christianity Democracy, Gods’ Human, , believes ‘love, noumenal world, saint believes, meaning schopenhauer, human madness, herd instinct, organised religion, nietzsche believes, human construct,