And for that matter, if he died, then when was he born?? I don't think these people are referring to Jesus Christ, God the Son. But, I would certainly like to know what they are getting at. If you are atheist, isn't it easier to say, "there is no god," rather than "God is dead???"
2006-08-19 19:56:56 · 30 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The German philosopher Nietzsche wrote the line "god is dead"..
he wasn't the first to do so...but it gathered a lot of "press" a few years ago when some fundamentalism had "cute" bumper stickers that read:
"God is Dead"
Nietzsche
"Nietzsche is Dead"
God
Cute?
The line is maligned and misunderstood....In his philosophical writings, Nietzsche was trying to develop the idea that the old European idea of god...like in the artwork/church paintings/
church sermons/ writings/ etc etc etc....the figure of the Old Testament god the Father ..was not good enough for most people in his time...that thinking people needed a more refined, sophisticated, enlightened view of who/what god is...
If the people that quote this line had only read further...they would have read the following..."god is dead, and we have killed him"
He was talking about the changes in the society and culture in Europe during the 1800's that no longer accepted the "old" image of god....the "we have killed him" is the clue. His view was that thinking people needed to "upgrade" their thoughts/images/beliefs in the nature of god...
Neitzsche has also been misjudged about a term that was misquoted in English as "superman"
What he was saying was that the ideal person is "self overcoming" ...that is, always striving to better themselves
for their own sake...not at the expense of others....self[inner]development was key to his thinking...and refining one's understanding of god was an important aspect of a person's growth.
2006-08-19 20:27:16 · answer #1 · answered by Gemelli2 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know, this sounds like their crazy, right? God can't die. GOD IS. The confusion comes from the Roman Catholics. The Catholics changed the bible to fit their beliefs. They wanted to exalt Mary to a higher position and make her a queen of heaven, even though this isn't even in the bible. They even say she is an eternal virgin, when the bible says she had other children, after the virgin birth of Jesus. They made up the word trinity, which is not in the bible either, and said that God was 3 people in one. They say that Jesus is the son of God, but even though the bible says that Jesus is God's word made flesh, they changed verses like, In the beginning was the word, and the word was God, and the word was a god. Denoting a lesser god, and not God himself, even though they believe in the virgin birth of the holy spirit overshadowing Mary. It seems that they were confused, they confused many people, and they still are confused.
The next problem was that Martin Luther protested the Catholics teachings with the idols, and kissing rings, exalting the pope as Jesus,and the Spanish Inquisitions, and a new branch of Christianity formed, the Protestants, which means to protest. Some protestants held on to some of the teachings of the Catholic church, and the Protestants were divided even further. So when some Christians try to tell anyone that Jesus is God, they will laugh and say that this can't be. That would mean that God is dead. That God can die. We mean that the human body He was in, died. They are missing the whole symbolism of the act. Jesus died and rose again to save us by showing that we to can have eternal life in God, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Lord.
The only thing I remember of Nietzsche, is that he died insane thinking he was Jesus Christ.
He was the son of a Protestant father who went crazy, and he himself, died of syphilus.
Athiest Existentialist who thought himself the Christ? Sort of proves atheism is crazy doesn't it?
2006-08-19 20:24:53 · answer #2 · answered by classyjazzcreations 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you're referring to Neitzsche's quote... I suggest you do research on the web... (Modern scientific methods are killing faith and God is one interpretation).
If you're not, then I think (perhaps) they mean to say that the belief in God is 'dead' compared to how they'd like it. Or perhaps it's like the old English saying... The King (Queen) is dead; long live the King (Queen)!
Taking the question literally... How can God die?
If God exists, the (S)He-- an omniscient and omnipotent being that created the Universe (at a minimum)-- is without time and space. God can neither be born nor die... if God is the creator, than what created God? God's God?
I would think atheists would say "There is no God". As an agnostic, I certainly don't say "God is dead." Nor do I say "God is alive!"
2006-08-19 20:05:03 · answer #3 · answered by Kimberley Mc 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that the generel idea of god being "dead" as was earlier said was created as a slogan for a person but the phrase is now being used as a way to characterize someone making a proclamation that there is no god. This is the reason. The fact that god was here before time and therefore not part of it would say that if god is dead then he never existed because since he is outside of time for him to die would eliminate him from all point in time therefore he never would have existed.
2006-08-19 20:16:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You know, I wondered about that. Only because the world is getting so out of control. If it is so, I do appreciate the regenerating systems he/she put in place; the trees, rain/percipitation, sunrise/sunset, reproduction, etc. so we could continue to survive long after his passing. Do I think he's dead, NO. If anything, he's broken-hearted by his children destroying the Earth and not appreciating his work. For you to say there is no God, ask yourself who created the trees, water, clouds, the Sun, and blood cells. Why are we even walking the Earth? I'm a spiritual person, hardly brainwashed by religion. I just think there's a certain magic to the stars in the sky, to the sun that rises and falls each day.
2006-08-19 20:09:47 · answer #5 · answered by Jazzybinature 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps it is jus a slogan. God is everywhere and cannont ever be considered dead. Only God can answer when he was born cause Jesus never told us this accountable story. Answering a question this deep and God will say, tell them that I am that I am.
That is the closest that one can get in wanting to know when God was born. Holler back.
2006-08-19 20:04:25 · answer #6 · answered by JoJoBa 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God is very much alive.
I used to be an atheist. Over a period of time however, I grew convinced of the existence of the Christian God, and ultimately committed my life to Christ (e.g., see http://www.godsci.org/gs/chri/testimony/seek.html ).
For scientific and intellectual evidence for the existence of God, see http://www.godsci.org/gs/godsci/evidence.htm
Cordially,
John
2006-08-19 21:27:09 · answer #7 · answered by John 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Freidriech Nietzche said this, and by 'God is dead' he meant that the belief in God has lost its constraint on society. That people said they believed in God, but then did not follow the Ten Commandments or under his ruling.
2006-08-19 20:02:30 · answer #8 · answered by Psychedelic Worm 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The idea implys that if there is or was infact a benevolent loving God that existed, he must be dead to allow the things that happen here on Earth.
2006-08-19 20:00:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That phrase was coined by Nietzch back in the day and it does not mean that God literally died. It is a comment on the state of our political and social state and the way it has been affected by religion.
2006-08-19 20:00:45 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋