The elimination of "God" occurred in progressive steps. First, this elimination of "God" unfolded in the form of the initial critique of the "First Cause" as a result of alternative explanations such as that of Newtonian physics. Second, intellectuals then initiated a critique of the Concept of God (at least the traditional concept of God) through philosophical analysis. Finally, there occurred an attack on the very idea of God, which is evidenced in the work of individuals such as Feuerbach and Nietzsche. The following material will examine certain of the Philosophers who represent the intellectual atheism.
Johann Gottlieb Fichte (1762-1814)Johann Fichte was a nineteenth century German Philosopher who challenged the Christian concept of God. He argued that the conception of God as personal and infinite is "self-contradictory". According to Fichte God cannot be both "personal" and "infinite" at the same time since to argue that God is "personal" is to link God with the idea of "substance" which confines the "being" of God and therefore eliminates the possibility of God's being "infinite." In short, the notions of God as personal and infinite are mutually exclusive. Fichte presented his analysis of the concept of God as person by utilizing a relational analogy. According to Fichte's understanding, personhood relationally understood implies limitation. As "person" there is a point at which I stop, so to speak, and another person begins. This demonstrates the conclusion that personhood implies limitation and finiteness. Therefore, Fichte concluded it to be inappropriate to conceive of God as "person" since the very notion implies limit and "God" is unlimited or "infinite." Consequently, for Fichte, the concept of personhood simply cannot be used to describe that which by nature is unlimited. (Colin Brown, Philosophy and the Christian Faith, 118)
Ludwig Feuerbach (1804-1872)Feuerbach approached the issue of God's existence from the psychological perspective. According to Feuerbach, the traits, which are attributed to the supposed God who exists, are projections of human characteristics. It was Feuerbach's intention to "obliterate" the very idea of God's existence and he attempted to do so by reducing God's existence to a psychological event. In so doing, Feuerbach contended that the idea of God is nothing more than an illusion produced by the human mind. He countered that, rather than proposing the existence of "God" humanity should simply acknowledge the universal greatness of humanity the denial of which has led to the human need for God's existence. (Grenz, Theology for the Community of God, 38)
Karl Marx (1818-1883)Karl Marx proposed that "God" is nothing more than humanity’s effort to cope with social loneliness and alienation in the human condition. His most well known contention described religion as "the opiate of the people” by which he intended to convey the idea that religion is the means whereby individuals are manipulated into accepting the economic status quo. All religion and one's belief in God’s existence is nothing more than a means of anesthetizing people to the tragic social conditions by which they are surrounded. Marx also argued that as social conditions improve through class revolution the need for religion and belief in God will diminish. (Newport, Ultimate Questions, 332)
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)One of the more interesting and complicated efforts to eliminate "God" thought was produced by Friedrich Nietzsche. The object of Nietzsche's attack was God himself. (Colin Brown, Philosophy and Christian Faith, 138) His very starting point was the non-existence of God. For Nietzsche, "God is dead." (Friedrich Nietzsche, The Joyful Wisdom, No. 343, 275) Consequently, Nietzsche concluded that humanity is left to fend for itself so to speak. God does not exist. Humanity must pave its own path. Humanity must go it alone. In particular Nietzsche, the son of a Lutheran pastor, demonstrated extreme hostility toward Christianity. For Nietzsche, Christianity advocates nothing less than a "slave morality" which reflects the resentment of the weak toward the strong. Those who failed to have the courage to master their own passions (Christians) and who lack inner strength of character (Christians) seek revenge toward those stronger than themselves. This desire for revenge is seen not in this life, but in conceptions of the "fictional" life to come, where "God" will carry out vengeance on behalf of the adherents of this "slave morality." Especially interesting is Nietzsche's counter proposal to the slave morality. He called for "the Superman" or the Ubermensch and with this concept intended the individual who realizes the human predicament, creates his own values and shapes life accordingly. To do otherwise and to depend upon a morality based on "God belief" is to demonstrate weakness. In short, the Nietzschean Super Man is one who has encountered the adversity of life and who has overcome these challenges through the Will to Power and in turn triumphs over weakness and despises the presence of weakness in others. (Colin Brown, Philosophy and Christian Faith, 139-40) Thus, Nietzsche's contention that what does not kill me makes me stronger.
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)According to Freud God is a human construct and religious beliefs are born of infantile feelings of helplessness and fear. Consequently, Freud proposed that "God" is nothing more than the projection of the need for a Cosmic Father Figure. The idea of God's existence is an invention upon which we rely in order to endure in the midst of a hostile cosmos. In addition, "God" is the byproduct of psychological repression. Humanity has failed to come to grips with the reality that we are on our own and the result of this repression of the way things really are is neurosis, psychosis and even the paranoid delusion of an all knowing God, Father figure, who watches over us with the threat of punish or reward. For Freud, religion is a curse not a blessing, the reason for humanity’s problems and not the solution to them. This infantile need for "God" must be abandoned. It is time for humanity to "grow up" so to speak and stand on our own two feet. (Newport, Ultimate Questions, 330)
