John Sampson PHL-1001 Assignment 2

Nietzshe's story "The Madman" is very interesting in the way the character claims"God is dead". His contention is that the concept of God is not believable or just not real. Although from learning of Nietzshe's past and other writings we can figure that this is the point or meaning he was making. But if you dont take into account any of Nietzshes history or other writings I can disagree with this view point and can see the exact opposite view. My interpretation of "The Madman" is not that God is dead or not even real, but a call to Christians who believe in God to re-evaluate their faith and the way the follow their religion. Although he wrote these words, Nietzshe himself is not actually making the claim God is dead, but his character the "madman". It's interesting that he chose a madman to be the messenger of the news that god is dead. Is this someone that the people should listen to or take seriously? If a madman were to tell me something I may think the exact opposite. I feel the madman is calling out those Christians who believe in God. He uses "murderers" as a metaphor for sinners. By killing God we are sinning and losing faith. By killing God we are adjusting our religious beliefs, picking and choosing what to follow and what to believe in instead of following our religious beliefs, no matter what religion, the way it is written. Many have a tendency to take a individual approach to religion and base many judgments on ones own personal interests. Is lying ok if it's just a little white lie? Is it ok to take from others if you feel they wont miss it or that they have more than they need? The madman may be saying we are killing God with our indifference in our faith. That God is becoming "dead" in the hearts and minds of men. Also in claiming God is dead would mean at some point that God was alive. That people who once had strong beliefs in their religion are now waning and losing their faith. With the emergence of the theory of evolution and advancements in science, strong arguments can be made against religious writings and the creation of man. Therefore if you believe that God was or is alive, by taking an agnostic approach to your religion you have to rely on your faith and moral beliefs. And while religion is not needed to maintain morality, worse case scenario is it provides you with faith or a moral starting point or guideline. It provides hope that by having faith you can someday have salvation. I dont believe people wouldnt know right from wrong if they dont believe in God. Almost all societies have established basic concepts of morality with punishments for murder, stealing and other wrong doing. But religion provides something for people with faith. A moral starting ground, laws from the church to live by and something to

look forward to in salvation after death. Even if there wasnt a God, would these be bad qualities to have? The madman also exclaims "I have come to early....my time is not yet" and "this deed is still more distant from them than the most distant stars-and yet they have done it themselves". Does he mean God is not yet dead? Is there still time for us to change our sinning ways to make things right? This is yet another call from the madman to those that have faith. Its not too late to change your sinning ways. Its not too late to renew your faith. God is still alive if you believe. We must all take a look at ourselves and actions and being to make changes. By reading Nietzshe's other works we can see his views on religion, how he feels "morality is born within us and not imposed on us". So if you didnt know that Nietzshe wrote this piece, its possible to conceive this is not a piece on whether God exists or has ever existed, but a story that wants us to reflect on our actions and beliefs. Calling us to re-examine our religious beliefs and to continue to have faith and to stop following our religion based on our own personal interests and to follow the guidelines that it has set.