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Why Did Nietzsche Decide To Live A Moral Life

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The Role of Faith in Deciding to Live a Moral Life

“So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people. Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide... Show respect to all people and grovel to none... Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision. When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a …show more content…

Nietzsche did not agree. He found no value in a concept of morality that is based on pity or compassion for others. In his book, The Antichrist, he does not connect faith with a moral life. He believes that the concept of pity is insidious to life because it contradicts with the human instinct of self-preservation. Nietzsche states, “Christianity is called the religion of pity. Pity stands opposed to the tonic emotions which heighten our vitality: it has a depressing effect. We are deprived of strength when we feel pity (p.7)” He looked at the concept of faith only as a component of religion. Because he found no value in religion he saw no use for faith or faith-based morality. Nietzsche’s argument fails to account for the idea that a moral life, inspired by faith, could lead to a positive …show more content…

He believes that we should not base our beliefs on the purity of logic. Logic alone should not be the singular basis that guides our actions and directs our life. He suggests that the reasons to live a moral life are not always evident in logic and must be the product of faith. This supports the definition of faith where there is an expectation of outcomes in the future, but it is not clear how or why they happen. James believes that we should be free thinkers and take advantage of the power of free will. James states, “If we decide to leave the riddles unanswered, that is a choice… If a man chooses to turn his back all together on God and the future, no one can prevent him… I do not not see that any one can prove that if he is mistaken. p.38)” Furthermore, he contends that we should not base our beliefs on the edicts of authoritative figures. He believes that if we do, we will blindly accept

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