If God were dead, would it lead to 'nihilism'?

Question

The German philosipher Friedrich Nietzsche once said that 'God is dead'. He also believed that this will lead to an objection of belief an an objective and universal moral law. Do you agree and why?

I don't need to know whethere you agree that God is dead or not, or debate the existance of God, just theoritically speaking, would it lead to nihilism

Answer 1

Seriously, I blame Christian apologetic, William Lane Craig for misrepresenting Nietzsche this way. I assume that you got this idea from him as well because you almost have seem to paraphrase what he said.

It was actually Arther Schopenhauer who talked about this kind of nihilism with lack of God, and Nietzsche did not agree with this notion. He writes,

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From this paragraph alone, we can discover right away that death of God meant a new vision for humanity, destruction of old Christian values, but not nihilism.

Subjective meanings drawn from our experience is not necessarily nihilism. It just means that there is objective moral laws based on what God commands.

Let's make a thought experiment because that's what philosophers do.

Let's say you were born under your parents with a specific purpose in mind; that is to use you for farming.
Now you are all grown up, and you are able to think for yourself now. And rather than farming, you'd rather study philosophy.
Does this absolute meaning of life that is granted to you by your parents have any meaning to you? Of course you love them and you value their opinion, but it certainly isn't what you desire.
In the end, your will triumphs over your parent-given meaning.

Nietzsche would have defied God even if he was real because God's purpose for us absolutely has no meaning to him.
Death of God is not nihilism to Nietzsche. It is precisely the opposite. It's about brand new birth of Europe with new meanings and values.

Answer 2

The full quote is:

"God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it?"

And reading through it, you see that Nietzsche intended it in an ironic manner, that humans can no longer look to God as a shining example of all that is good in the world, because we don't believe in him anymore. And if God is not the embodiment of all that is good in the world, what is he to us?

Also, if "God were dead", nothing would happen. Very few or no people would even realise the fact, and those who did wouldn't be believed by the rest.

Answer 3

Most definitely NO. (Without going into too much detail....)

Ever since the beginning of time mankind has always believed in "something or someone" and that "something or someone" evolved over the passage of time into "God" as we learn from The Great Holy Books handed down to us by His great prophets etc. He is called by many names, however, these names, certainly in my opinion, all relate to the One God, and He is one and the same.

Now, assuming that God is dead, it is my belief that we humans, as in the past, would find a replacement for Him.

Why do I say this? Because I believe that within each and every one of us resides an innate belief in an unseen power that controls the universe. Greek mythology, for one, explains this concept vividly from Zeus down.

Answer 4

If what is identified as being God is dead, then that particular being would not be God. What Nietszche was saying is that belief in God's existence can no longer be credibly sustained (in his estimation) given the rationalist and materialistic epistemology of modernity. In my estimation, without accountability to a moral law that is grounded in a transcendent authority, morality is reduced to subjective self interest, survival of the fittest, custom and the arbitrary dictates of the secular state.

Answer 5

he is correct. all law is based on an appeal to authority, whether it is the divine right of kings or an appeal as to what is best for all members of society.

when the principal of any power structure is removed there begins a fight or struggle for power. often the ones rising through the ranks are of lessor character than those already in office leading to a breakdown of the laws as well as the moral base

given that if god is dead is the rule of the day people have no reason to behave for their is no consequence.

we are in fact seeing this played out in our society now as all references to god are removed in our society. even prayer is basically outlawed unless certain provisions are made.

lawlessness in our society is confirming the postulated position to be true. 30 years ago, many cities were very safe. today, almost no place is safe.

i think nietzsche is proven to be correct. we are headed to non-existance and nothingness

Answer 6

It would for a while.

Nietzsche saw nihilism as a growing pain that needs to be overcome after the death of God.

Nietzsche also saw nihilism in belief in God as well if that belief devalues the world we live in.

Answer 7

That was an expression of Nietzsche's nihilism.

But religion does not have a monopoly on morality so what does the existence of God have to do with morals?

Answer 8

Look Fraz,

There's not a lot of point in asking this sort of question here. Libraries have been written as a "footnote to Plato", so what are you trying to do other than to show us your erudition? I ask you if god is dead, then when was he alive? Think about it if you can.

FN also famously said "beware the indignant man". I've found that to be useful practical advice.

What do you reckon?

Answer 9

God is dead is very easily taken out of context. It does not lead to nihilism, but maybe you can say that it starts from there. It simply means that man is free to define his own destiny. That there is no one to tell him what to do.

Answer 10

God will never be dead!
God will always be alive!
Who was Friedrich Nietzsche to say that God is dead?? I guess he didn't believe God's Word. I don't see how people would rather believe man than God. It's quite sad.