For Nietzsche, there are two levels of morality: the slave morality and the master morality.
The slave morality is a morality of the "herd" and is based on the mediocre majority and this morality is a control mechanism of the strong toward the weak. Those in power create the slave morality for the purposes of controlling the masses. This effort of control in turn creates resentment on behalf of the controlled toward those in power. Thus the slave morality speaks of such ethical categories as pity, tolerance, modesty, sympathy, humility, respect, freedom, and happiness. Commitment to the pursuit of these qualities results in the continued domination of the weak and consequently the resentment of the weak toward the strong.
The master morality is attainable only by the elite and produces a higher level of humanity designated as the Ubermensch or Superman. This "higher type" of human is solitary, deals with others only as instruments, manifest resilience, affirm this life rather than the life beyond and exhibit self-reverence or nobility. Nietzsche's most in depth discussion of the issue is found in his Beyond Morality.
As previously stated, the slave object that is the focus of the slave morality possesses resentment toward those in power according to Nietzsche. In other words, the average person resents those who determine values, standards and qualities of right and wrong, moral and immoral. The slave therefore calls all who are morally creative "evil". Herein lies the basis for Nietzsche's conclusions regarding Christian morality.
For Nietzsche, Christianity morality is inadequate for a number of reasons. First, Christian morality is antilife. As such, Christian morality shifts the focus on the average persons from this life to the life beyond. For Nietzsche, there is an antilife dimension to all religion and not just Christianity.
This antilife mentality is also present, for instance, within the faith constructs of Buddhism, Islam and any other religious system. With regard to Christianity, the emphasis upon the future life as a place either of eternal life or eternal torture is demonstrative of this anti life spirit. According to Nietzsche, Western Christianized society and its masses generally say "No" to life in the present and focus primarily on the life to come (Though it seems that this perspective is shifting as Western society becomes increasingly secularized and the role of religion on the Western mind set diminishes.)
According to Nietzsche, in the past people were distinguished by strength, vitality, and courage. These individuals formed a natural nobility and aristocracy and get the way through the "will to power" which is a key phrase for Nietzsche. Eventually the masses were subdued by the aristocracy and the result was that civil society began.
One of the conditions of civil society is that differing groups must cooperate with others in order for there to be structure in the society. The Master Morality imposed upon the masses was a mechanism of control which in turn was to lead to civil order. However, despite the efforts of the elite, the animal instincts of humanity are still present. Consequently, there is a tendency toward a "slave revolt mentality" against the rules of morality imposed by the elite upon the herd or masses.
From this resentment emerges the Christian understanding of eternal torment or reward. Christian eschatological accountability, according to Nietzsche, is a product of the resentment of the masses toward the elite who have imposed a morality of control upon them. The threat of divine punishment is an attempt on the part of the masses to counter the control efforts of the elite.
Finally, Nietzsche not only argued that Christianity is anti life, that Christianity's hope for eschatological accountability is a sort of revenge mechanism, but also that Christianity diminishes the potential of the human person. In short, Nietzsche argues that human success can be accomplished not by placing one's faith in a God who is in reality dead, but rather by self-reliance. From this concept emerges conclusion that what does not kill the individual only serves to make the individual stronger. The adversities and challenges of human existence, rather than compelling us to trust in the delusion of a God who will get us through, should in reality create within the individual strength based in one's own identity. This self-reliant overcoming individual is the Ubermensch.
