Responses To Beyond Good And Evil Essay

In Beyond Good and Evil, Friedrich Nietzsche gives his criticisms to Christianity. As a philosopher, he presents his school of thought and accuses Christianity as a dogmatic religion with fewer benefits to all the people. This paper critically analyzes his accusations. It does this by giving critical responses in line with the Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical Deus Caritas Est.
Nietzsche accused the church of poisoning erotic love by converting it into a vice. He uses excerpts from the Songs of Solomon to be a degrading manifestation of conjugal love. To him, Christianity is the worst type of self-presumption in the history of man because it has turned him into a sublime autocrat. Instead of using it morally, love has been regarded as a desire to possess a woman. Its acquisition is associated with the authority to have a full control over a woman’s soul and freedom. He says that Catholics are not as religiously talented as the Protestants. Their lack of delicatezza has rendered religion be a very dangerous phenomenon associated to the dietaries of sacrifice, fasting and sexual abstinence.
As a staunch Christian, I would like to say that Nietzsche should be opposed for his misleading stance. Religion is a very significant experience which no one should do without. As the chief source of morality, it promotes harmony and understanding in the society. I would like to concur with Pope Benedict XVI for his responses. In deed, he should be made to understand that love has a great contribution in the life of Christians. At no one time should the agape, phillial and erotic love be confused. They are essential experiences to Christians. Philial and agape are not different types of love, but just similar sections of a complete and one love. Love is the greatest commandment in Christianity. It was ordained by God since “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him” (1 John 4:16).
Nietzsche was wrong because he did not understand the essence of love in Christianity. As the greatest virtue, it is divine because it comes from God. Thus, Christians should reciprocate God’s love by showing it to God and their neighbors. As the pope said, brotherly love can be demonstrated by helping one another. This can be through the initiation of charity projects in support of the underprivileged in the society. No Christian can claim to separate the love for God and the neighbor. As the pope says, ‘Love of God and love of neighbor are inseparable because they constitute a single commandment.’ Instead of condemning Christians for participating in the offering of sacrifices as a forceful cruel act, he was supposed to acknowledge that it is a noble practice ordained by God. This is why He gave Jesus to die as a ransom to save Christians from their sins.
In conclusion, I would like to point out that Nietzsche was not justified to label such accusations to the Christian community. Love is a great element of Christian faith which should not be overlooked. As a philosopher, Nietzsche was supposed to be thoughtful in his assertions. It is through the church that people get to learn about morality and virtues. Love is inseparable and should not be treated in parts. After all, it is the greatest commandment that binds the Christian community. He is wrong because it can not be received coercively. Anyone who receives it must give it in return.