The Twilight of the Idols · Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
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“Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. _For_ ...” (_A psychologist’s comment._ Christian morality is refuted by its “For’s”: its “reasons” refute,—this is Christian.) (Mark viii. 34.) “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged.” (Matthew vii. I, 2.)—What a strange notion of justice on the part of a “just” judge!... “For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more _than others?_ do not even the publicans so?” (Matthew v. 46, 47.) The principle of “Christian love”: it insists upon being _well paid_.... “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew vi. 15.)—Very compromising for the “Father” in question. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew vi. 33)—“All these things”—that is to say, food, clothing, all the necessities of life. To use a moderate expression, this is an _error ..._. Shortly before this God appears as a tailor, at least in certain cases.... “Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward _is_ great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.” (Luke vi. 23.)—_Impudent_ rabble! They dare to compare themselves with the prophets....
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God and _that_ the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, _him shall God destroy;_ for the temple of God is holy, which _temple ye are._” (St Paul, I Corinthians iii. 16, 17.)—One cannot have too much contempt for this sort of thing.... “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?” (St Paul, I Corinthians vi. 2.)—Unfortunately this is not merely the speech of a lunatic.... This _appalling impostor_ proceeds thus: “Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?” “Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe ... not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble _are called;_ But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen; _yea,_ and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.” (St Paul, I Corinthians i. 20 _et seq._)—In order to _understand_ this passage, which is of the highest importance as an example of the psychology of every Chandala morality, the reader should refer to my _Genealogy of Morals:_ in this book, the contrast between a _noble_ and a Chandala morality born of _resentment_ and impotent revengefulness, is brought to light for the first time. St Paul was the greatest of all the apostles of revenge....
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.