Does Christianity Make Us Weak? (Nietzsche)
Friedrich Nietzsche on Herd Morality & The Will to Power.
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Friedrich Nietzsche on Herd Morality & The Will to Power.
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This makes me think of modern capitalism in the U.S. Those corporations who drone on about the good of the free market (the predator's market) whilst huddling up with the Government, their hands out like paupers when their businesses start to fail due to mismanagement (sheep's market.) Those that want to play both sides simply become wolves in sheep's clothing. The double-talk is unbearable.Callate said:...accepting the benefits of the so-called "herd mentality" when it suits them and victimizing others to their own benefit when it suits them, cease to so much predators as scavengers...
One could argue there are some pretty amazing divides between what Christian writings say, how those writings are interpreted and what theology is derived from them and disseminated. I don't want to belabor you with an undesired lecture though; I guess suffice it to say that it really depends on which brand of Christianity you're looking at. The New Testament would have us be God's lambs. The old Testament would have us be God's wolves. Much Christian theology I've seen tries to split that difference and it comes out a confused mess. I think that's born out by just how many sub-sets of Christian teaching there are. Religion is a sensitive subject, so I will not press these points if you'd rather not. Cheers!Sofox said:My experience of Christianity has always been about compassion, empthy, understanding where the other person is coming from, and largely, not being a jerk. Trying to do the right thing even when it's hard to do.
Maybe it's because I'm Irish and this video is clearly influenced by American culture (unless there are other countries with participation trophies), but I don't see the whole assimilation culture that Christianity is meant to have here. Yes, I suppose there are lessons about not being overly arrogant, or not acting morally superior to everyone, or the limitations of wealth; but I've always seen Christianity as about giving us moral underpinnings, a better sense of where we are in the world, and otherwise let us follow our own path (though maybe praying to God for guidance if we're not sure).
Nietzsche's insanity was hereditary. It seems irrelevant to what he wrote before his psychotic break.Callate said:...Of course, Neitzsche also died insane.
The man had some interesting things to say, no question. But taking him as a sole guiding light undoubtedly carries with it the assumption that one will, of course, be the predator not the prey.
Nietzsche wrote all of his philosophy in Germany, mostly during the 1880's. He refers explicitly to European culture when he describes the herd mentality, and I don't think anybody was giving out "participation awards" yet at that time. Ireland is included in the European Christian culture to which he refers, and in "People's and Fatherlands" he describes the Irish as particularly prone to assimilation. Any influence by American culture in this video arises solely from the hands of Matt Reichle and Jared Bauer, and is not innate to Nietzsche's philosophy.Sofox said:Maybe it's because I'm Irish and this video is clearly influenced by American culture (unless there are other countries with participation trophies), but I don't see the whole assimilation culture that Christianity is meant to have here.
I'm curious as to where you derive that conclusion from. People who like participation trophies also like Nietzsche because he hates religion? Is there some link or correlation between participation trophies and hating religion? I find that assertion to be a bit odd; what makes you link the two?LysanderNemoinis said:Wow, I can't believe that most of the posts so far have been defending or at least not bashing Christianity. It's actually...kind of a nice treat for me to see. But I'd also like to point out that most of the people who want paticipation trophies, not keeping score in games, treating everyone like a winnner, gold stars for all, and wanting people to conform are the very same people who love Nietzsche almost purely because of his hatred of religion.
Generally, very far left-leaning people, and especially in the education industry (which is almost entirely liberal to a fault), are the ones pushing participation trophies, gold stars for nothing, forcing winners in schools to give up their trophies if the game's a blowout, etc. Also, I've yet to meet a single liberal person who doesn't adore Nietzsche or at least spout his anti-religious rhetoric whenever they happen to encounter anything religious.Gorrath said:I'm curious as to where you derive that conclusion from. People who like participation trophies also like Nietzsche because he hates religion? Is there some link or correlation between participation trophies and hating religion? I find that assertion to be a bit odd; what makes you link the two?LysanderNemoinis said:Wow, I can't believe that most of the posts so far have been defending or at least not bashing Christianity. It's actually...kind of a nice treat for me to see. But I'd also like to point out that most of the people who want paticipation trophies, not keeping score in games, treating everyone like a winnner, gold stars for all, and wanting people to conform are the very same people who love Nietzsche almost purely because of his hatred of religion.
The story isn't about investing strategies or proper Human Resources management, but it's quite literally about using our talents. Nietzsche, as presented by this video, seems to think the 1st servant would be chastised for outperforming the 3rd servant and that the 3rd servant would be given a participation trophy... but the opposite is true. As Christians we aren't chastised for using our talents, we're chastised if we aren't using them.A master is leaving on a journey and is leaving 3 servants in charge of his stuff while he's gone. To one servant he entrusts a large sum of money (10 talents), to another servant a medium sum (5 talents) to another a small sum (1 talent). Both the first two servants use the money to make more money which they give to their master when he returns and are both praised for their efforts, while the third servant buries the money until the master returns, and when the master returns the third servant is harshly chastised for wasting what was given to him and called "a wicked and slothful servant".
If you're referring to his (in)famous quote "God is dead," that one has been so misinterpreted, it's annoyingNimcha said:Ah, the dead god.
In their defense, they don't just do videogames, though it is a big portion of their site. This is taken from the Wisecrack Youtube channel, which is easily one of the best and this particular series always leads to interesting debates. They always use videogames to discuss various philosophical topics.Mazimadu said:What the hell is this?
This is a video game culture site, why the hell are we discussing Nietzsche and Christianity? Its not like there is a game that does it well.
NOTE:
I wrote this before I read the comments. I am happy that there are many Christians on this site discussing how Nietzsche got it wrong. Still, I would not imagine the Escapist to be the place to have philosophical/theological discussion. This is still a video game website.