Nietzsche, God, and the Jews: His Critique of Judeo-Christianity in Relation to the Nazi Myth

249 Pages·1994·5.49 MB·English

by  Weaver Santaniello

NIETZSCHE, GOD,
AND THE JEWS

NIETZSCHE, GOD,
AND THE JEWS
His Critique of Judea-Christianity
in Relation to the Nazi Myth
by
Weaver Santaniello
foreword by David Tracy
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK PRESS
Published by
State University of New York Press, Albany
© 1994 State University of New York
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
No part of this book may be used or reproduced
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Santaniello, Weaver, 1958-
Nietzsche, God, and the Jews: his critique of Juden-Christianity
in relation to the Nazi myth / by Weaver Santaniello; foreword by
David Tracy.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-7914-2135-X (alk. paper). - ISBN 0-7914-2136-8 (pbk.:
alk. paper)
I. Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm, 1844-1900-Religion.
2. Christianity and antisemitism. I. Title.
B3318.C35S26 1994
261.2'6'092-dc20 93-46690
CIP
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 I
The author and SUNY Press sincerely thank the following publishers for permissioIl to
use excerpts from copyrighted works:
RANDOM HOUSE: The Gay Sciellce by Friedrich Nietzsche. Copyright © 1974 by
Random House, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Random House, Inc. 011 the Gellealogy
of Momls by Friedrich Nietzsche. Copyright <D 1967 by Random House, Inc. Reprinted
by permissioIl of Random House, Inc. Ecce HOlllo by Friedrich Nietzsche. Copyright
© 1967 by Random House, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Random House, Inc. Beyolld
Good alld Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche. Copyright <D 1966 by Random House, Inc.
Reprinted by permission of Random House, Inc. The Will to POl\'er by Friedrich
Nietzsche. Copyright © 1967 by Walter Kaufmann, Reprinted by permission of Random
House, Inc.
VIKING PRESS: "The Antichrist" by Friedrich Nietzsche, edited by Walter Kauf
mann, "Nietzsche Contra Wagner" by Friedrich Nietzsche, edited by Walter Kauf
mann, "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" by Friedrich Nietzsche, edited by Walter Kaufmann,
"Twilight of the Idols" by Friedrich Nietzsche, edited by Walter Kaufmann, from The
Portahle Niet::'.I'che by Walter Kaufmann, editor. translated by Walter Kaufmann. Trans
lation copyright 1954 by the Viking Press, renewed <D 19X2 by Viking Penguin Inc.
Used by permission of Viking Penguin, a division of Penguin Books USA Inc.
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS: Dayhreak: Thollghts Oil the P/'(~illdices of
MOl'{flirv by Friedrich Nieusche, translated by R. J. Hollingdale. <D Cambridge Univer
sity Press 19X2. Reprinted with the permission of Cambridge University Press and R. 1.
Hollingdale.
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS: Selected Letters of Friedrich Nietzsche,
edited and translated by Christopher Middleton. Copyright <D 1969 by The University of
Chicago. Reprinted by permission of The University of Chicago Press.
HARV ARD UNIVERSITY PRESS: Nict:: .. I'chc: A Self-jJortmitfrolll his Leffel's, edited
and translated by Peter Fuss and Henry Shapiro. Copyright <D 1971 by Harvard Uni
versity Press. Reprinted by permission of Harvard University Press.

Dedicated with thanks and respect
in memory of Erich Heller
... the heiRhts where you find him link him in friendship to
... the unrecoRnized (~r all times.
-Nietzsche (1882-85)
CONTENTS
Foreword Xl
Abbreviations XlIl
Acknowledgments xv
Introduction
PART I: NIETZSCHE'S LIFE AND
CULTURAL CHRISTIANITY, 1844-1900 7
I. Nietzsche's Early Years and the Break with Wagner 9
2. Zarathustra's World contra the Sister's 29
3. Christianity, Culture, and the Vo/k 47
PART II: THE MATURE WRITINGS, 1883-1888 67
4. Thus Spoke Zarathllstra: Creation, Redemption,
and the Birth of a Dancing Star 69
5. Toward the Genea/ogy of Mora/s:
The Dionysian Drama of the Destiny of the Soul 91
6. Antichrist: The Justice of Yahweh versus the Judgment of Christ 115
Conclusion: The Nazis' Mythologizing of Nietzsche 137
Nores 155
Select Bibliography 207
Index 215
IX