Originally posted by Antichrist
the "death of God" is an expression that Nietzsche came up with to summarize is nihilistic views, something like this, there is no god->there is no
unviersal truth->there are not universal values, morals ethics->the only honest way in life is by acknowledging this and beeig one's own God creating
one's own values.
Here's where that particular chain of logic falls short: If every individual has their own choice as to what values he/she will hold dear, what about
those people who see the inflicting of pain & death as being good for themselves?
I believe that everyone *should* have the freedom to decide what they believe in, but it should also be tempered with the basic understanding that
others are going to be doing the same & should make their value-systems compatible with the basic needs & desires of humankind as a whole.
In other words, Nietzsche's chain of logic tries to instill a person with a sense of individual freedom *without* addressing the fact that this
freedom also carries responsibility...In other words, it denies a person's basic responsibility to recognize the same amount of freedom in other
people. Sure, people *should* have the freedom...But they should also be responsible enough with that freedom to see that "Your freedom ends where my
nose begins".
This is, IMO, how a lot of the "conspiracy" in the structures of organized religions have failed to serve the God/Allah/whatever...Too many of those
who've had high positions of influence within a church structure have tried (& many times succeeded) in pushing a value sustem upon their followers
by *rejecting* that basic responsibility to consider the needs of other people. In other words, they've pushed an idealistic system to "justify"
the use of violence against "non-believers"; Hence came the crusades/jihads/inquisitions, etc.
IMO, the "conspiracy" itself is beginning to fail...I see evidence of an increasing number of people *recognizing* where such lack of responsibility
has been harming the religions & taking steps against that conspiracy. IMO however, there are still far too many who do not question the ones who try
to maintain the "conspiracy" & still commit atrocities on their fellow human beings, even against the very foundation of the religion that they're
following...There's still too many sheep following the wrong shepards.
[Edited on 20-3-2003 by MidnightDStroyer]