Combining Texts

Ideas for 'works', 'Two Chief World Systems' and 'Thus Spake Zarathustra'

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3 ideas

29. Religion / A. Polytheistic Religion / 2. Greek Polytheism
The concepts of gods arose from observing the soul, and the cosmos [Aristotle, by Sext.Empiricus]
     Full Idea: Aristotle said that the conception of gods arose among mankind from two originating causes, namely from events which concern the soul and from celestial phenomena.
     From: report of Aristotle (works [c.330 BCE], Frag 10) by Sextus Empiricus - Against the Physicists (two books) I.20
     A reaction: The cosmos suggests order, and possible creation. What do events of the soul suggest? It doesn't seem to be its non-physical nature, because Aristotle is more of a functionalist. Puzzling. (It says later that gods are like the soul).
29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 2. Immortality / d. Heaven
We don't want heaven; now that we are men, we want the kingdom of earth [Nietzsche]
     Full Idea: We certainly do not want to enter into the kingdom of heaven: we have become men, so we want the kingdom of earth.
     From: Friedrich Nietzsche (Thus Spake Zarathustra [1884], 4.18.2)
Heaven was invented by the sick and the dying [Nietzsche]
     Full Idea: It was the sick and dying who despised the body and the earth and invented the things of heaven and the redeeming drops of blood.
     From: Friedrich Nietzsche (Thus Spake Zarathustra [1884], 1.04)