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20245 | Christianity hoped for a short cut to perfection, that skipped the hard labour of morality [Nietzsche] |
Full Idea: You can say what you like: Christianity wanted to liberate humanity from the burden of the demands of morality by pointing out a shorter way to perfection, or so it believed. | |
From: Friedrich Nietzsche (Dawn (Daybreak) [1881], 059) | |
A reaction: This conjures up Graham Greene's Catholic heroes, who wallow in sin, but hope for salvation at the last moment. |
20247 | Christianity was successful because of its heathen rituals [Nietzsche] |
Full Idea: Not what is Christian in it, rather the universal heathenism of its rituals is the reason for the propagation of this world religion. | |
From: Friedrich Nietzsche (Dawn (Daybreak) [1881], 070) | |
A reaction: I'm afraid I think this is right. I grew up bewildered by the lack of content in the rituals of church services. Even austere protestants manage to sing and recite. Maybe philosophies should do this - wanted: new Cartesian and Kantian rituals! |