There are Christians who are ridiculing atheists about the expression, "God is dead". In fact, I had an experience being the sole atheist in an auditorium full of religious audience, priests at the back and a speaker, who is indeed a good one, but happened to criticized atheism for this phrase. With the people laughing about it when he labeled us "Angry Believers," how would I feel? In this regard, I decided to make a post on this issue for open minded Christians to understand how atheists came up to say this expression.
In a literal sense, it is indeed hilarious. For us, atheists to say something dies is to imply that it once lived. So why do we really say, "God is dead"?
This expression is actually a quotation of Friedrich Nietzsche. He is a, a German Philosopher. He said this since he realized that the God concept no longer provides wisdom. Due to the disorder, people will no longer believe in order because of the realization that it does not exist anymore. Hence, the absoluteness of morality will be rejected leading to Nihilism - a philosophy which is about the absence of meaning.
Personally, when I say, "God is dead", I mean that the role of God in the life of the people, more especially in the search for answers of the questions of life has already ended. To explain our being and the imponderables life offers, we don't need a personal God anymore as far as modern philosophy has reached. In fact, God's existence poses more philosophical problems and inconsistencies in morality and everyday living.
So, that is my explanation. If Christians can use figures of speech and make interpretations of the Bible in a way to suit a situation, making the Bible an elastic writing, why can't atheists use such figures? In fact, it is certain, not just our interpretation of the quotation, and historically proven Nietzsche meant it not literally. His philosophical works prove it. Furthermore, "God is dead" does not end as just a statement. This is the complete quotation:
See? Case resolved. Atheists: Certified Unbelievers.
In a literal sense, it is indeed hilarious. For us, atheists to say something dies is to imply that it once lived. So why do we really say, "God is dead"?
This expression is actually a quotation of Friedrich Nietzsche. He is a, a German Philosopher. He said this since he realized that the God concept no longer provides wisdom. Due to the disorder, people will no longer believe in order because of the realization that it does not exist anymore. Hence, the absoluteness of morality will be rejected leading to Nihilism - a philosophy which is about the absence of meaning.
Personally, when I say, "God is dead", I mean that the role of God in the life of the people, more especially in the search for answers of the questions of life has already ended. To explain our being and the imponderables life offers, we don't need a personal God anymore as far as modern philosophy has reached. In fact, God's existence poses more philosophical problems and inconsistencies in morality and everyday living.
So, that is my explanation. If Christians can use figures of speech and make interpretations of the Bible in a way to suit a situation, making the Bible an elastic writing, why can't atheists use such figures? In fact, it is certain, not just our interpretation of the quotation, and historically proven Nietzsche meant it not literally. His philosophical works prove it. Furthermore, "God is dead" does not end as just a statement. This is the complete quotation:
"God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it?"
See? Case resolved. Atheists: Certified Unbelievers.
