My understanding, from listening and what I've read, is that it a reference to the work of German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche. In which, he discusses the concept of God as it relates to morality. If God is dead, then morality has no meaning. Specific to this song, it seems to be more of a torment or struggle to know the truth. In one part, the lyrics state, "I don't believe that God is dead"...then going on to repeat, "God is dead...God is dead". The Nietzsche reference is similar to Trent Reznor's (NIN's) song 'Heresy" - While "Heresy" is more of an atheistic exclamation, "God Is Dead?" is clearly more of a question, and not necessarily dismissive of God's existence.
@Yobbo14 It should be noted that Nietzche's quote is often misinterpreted. It's not a statement that God doesn't exist, and it's not just saying God is irrelevant in non-existent in the eye of culture, but that God is DEAD, meaning he's very much a part of culture, but in a very static way. If God were alive, metaphorically speaking, people would still believe in miracles instead of explaining them away with science, that is the point he was getting at.
@Yobbo14 It should be noted that Nietzche's quote is often misinterpreted. It's not a statement that God doesn't exist, and it's not just saying God is irrelevant in non-existent in the eye of culture, but that God is DEAD, meaning he's very much a part of culture, but in a very static way. If God were alive, metaphorically speaking, people would still believe in miracles instead of explaining them away with science, that is the point he was getting at.
@Ganondoxon - You're right about that context of Nietzsche's statement. I may not have been entirely clear on that in what I mentioned for his "If God is dead.." remarks. I don't like speaking in generalities, but considering Nietzsche's anti-theistic leanings, it's probably a safe assumption he wasn't a believer :) - I think @FreshOwnageon was more succinct in saying "If God is dead, everything is permitted" - which would seem to be more in line with certain philosophy and not necessarily the meaning of this song (which is more about a basic question of God's existence). With a...
@Ganondoxon - You're right about that context of Nietzsche's statement. I may not have been entirely clear on that in what I mentioned for his "If God is dead.." remarks. I don't like speaking in generalities, but considering Nietzsche's anti-theistic leanings, it's probably a safe assumption he wasn't a believer :) - I think @FreshOwnageon was more succinct in saying "If God is dead, everything is permitted" - which would seem to be more in line with certain philosophy and not necessarily the meaning of this song (which is more about a basic question of God's existence). With a reference to society, if God is dead, it would point to morality being dead as well. To many, an absent, missing, or nonexistent God means we only have nature and survival of the fittest, which does not provide right, wrong, an answer to life's meaning, love, and much more.
Nietzche was definitely an atheist, but that's not what the God is Dead quote is about. You need to understand the historical context, where at the time most philosopher's were theists, but they were also naturalists. That's what Nietzche was criticizing, he's saying God had no purpose in their model. In another quote, he said he could believe in a dancing god, as it's the dead god of the philosophers he found absurd, but he was still an atheist.
Nietzche was definitely an atheist, but that's not what the God is Dead quote is about. You need to understand the historical context, where at the time most philosopher's were theists, but they were also naturalists. That's what Nietzche was criticizing, he's saying God had no purpose in their model. In another quote, he said he could believe in a dancing god, as it's the dead god of the philosophers he found absurd, but he was still an atheist.
A few other important things to note about Nietzsche: he was trained as a theologian, which is what informed his ideas about God and why he was so obsessed with the idea of a dead God, and the God is dead quote was actually from a character of his, Zarathustra, though he was using Zarathustra as a mouthpiece. Finally, Niethzche's nihilistic existentialism is a direct result of his atheism, it's interesting to compare his philosophy with Kierkegaard's (a devout Christian) as a result.
A few other important things to note about Nietzsche: he was trained as a theologian, which is what informed his ideas about God and why he was so obsessed with the idea of a dead God, and the God is dead quote was actually from a character of his, Zarathustra, though he was using Zarathustra as a mouthpiece. Finally, Niethzche's nihilistic existentialism is a direct result of his atheism, it's interesting to compare his philosophy with Kierkegaard's (a devout Christian) as a result.
My understanding, from listening and what I've read, is that it a reference to the work of German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche. In which, he discusses the concept of God as it relates to morality. If God is dead, then morality has no meaning. Specific to this song, it seems to be more of a torment or struggle to know the truth. In one part, the lyrics state, "I don't believe that God is dead"...then going on to repeat, "God is dead...God is dead". The Nietzsche reference is similar to Trent Reznor's (NIN's) song 'Heresy" - While "Heresy" is more of an atheistic exclamation, "God Is Dead?" is clearly more of a question, and not necessarily dismissive of God's existence.
@Yobbo14 Sort OF like the study of metaphysics?
@Yobbo14 Sort OF like the study of metaphysics?
@Yobbo14 It should be noted that Nietzche's quote is often misinterpreted. It's not a statement that God doesn't exist, and it's not just saying God is irrelevant in non-existent in the eye of culture, but that God is DEAD, meaning he's very much a part of culture, but in a very static way. If God were alive, metaphorically speaking, people would still believe in miracles instead of explaining them away with science, that is the point he was getting at.
@Yobbo14 It should be noted that Nietzche's quote is often misinterpreted. It's not a statement that God doesn't exist, and it's not just saying God is irrelevant in non-existent in the eye of culture, but that God is DEAD, meaning he's very much a part of culture, but in a very static way. If God were alive, metaphorically speaking, people would still believe in miracles instead of explaining them away with science, that is the point he was getting at.
@Ganondoxon - You're right about that context of Nietzsche's statement. I may not have been entirely clear on that in what I mentioned for his "If God is dead.." remarks. I don't like speaking in generalities, but considering Nietzsche's anti-theistic leanings, it's probably a safe assumption he wasn't a believer :) - I think @FreshOwnageon was more succinct in saying "If God is dead, everything is permitted" - which would seem to be more in line with certain philosophy and not necessarily the meaning of this song (which is more about a basic question of God's existence). With a...
@Ganondoxon - You're right about that context of Nietzsche's statement. I may not have been entirely clear on that in what I mentioned for his "If God is dead.." remarks. I don't like speaking in generalities, but considering Nietzsche's anti-theistic leanings, it's probably a safe assumption he wasn't a believer :) - I think @FreshOwnageon was more succinct in saying "If God is dead, everything is permitted" - which would seem to be more in line with certain philosophy and not necessarily the meaning of this song (which is more about a basic question of God's existence). With a reference to society, if God is dead, it would point to morality being dead as well. To many, an absent, missing, or nonexistent God means we only have nature and survival of the fittest, which does not provide right, wrong, an answer to life's meaning, love, and much more.
@Yobbo14
@Yobbo14
Nietzche was definitely an atheist, but that's not what the God is Dead quote is about. You need to understand the historical context, where at the time most philosopher's were theists, but they were also naturalists. That's what Nietzche was criticizing, he's saying God had no purpose in their model. In another quote, he said he could believe in a dancing god, as it's the dead god of the philosophers he found absurd, but he was still an atheist.
Nietzche was definitely an atheist, but that's not what the God is Dead quote is about. You need to understand the historical context, where at the time most philosopher's were theists, but they were also naturalists. That's what Nietzche was criticizing, he's saying God had no purpose in their model. In another quote, he said he could believe in a dancing god, as it's the dead god of the philosophers he found absurd, but he was still an atheist.
A few other important things to note about Nietzsche: he was trained as a theologian, which is what informed his ideas about God and why he was so obsessed with the idea of a dead God, and the God is dead quote was actually from a character of his, Zarathustra, though he was using Zarathustra as a mouthpiece. Finally, Niethzche's nihilistic existentialism is a direct result of his atheism, it's interesting to compare his philosophy with Kierkegaard's (a devout Christian) as a result.
A few other important things to note about Nietzsche: he was trained as a theologian, which is what informed his ideas about God and why he was so obsessed with the idea of a dead God, and the God is dead quote was actually from a character of his, Zarathustra, though he was using Zarathustra as a mouthpiece. Finally, Niethzche's nihilistic existentialism is a direct result of his atheism, it's interesting to compare his philosophy with Kierkegaard's (a devout Christian) as a result.