The Church of Nietzsche

Friedrich Nietzsche was one of the most influential thinkers of the modern world, but was also one of the most controversial. His writings in Morality as Anti-Nature explain his beliefs on how religion (notably Christianity in this writing) restricts human emotion and natural desires. He says that Christianity destroys passions and condemns sensuality and hostility. The four great errors of Christianity recorded by Nietzsche are the error of confusing cause and effect, the error of a false causality, the error of imaginary causes, and the error of free will. He uses these four points to prove that Christianity is oppressive to the human race.
It can be argued that religion condemning hostility and sensuality is a good thing, and that these things are dangerous to condone in society, but in the case of Christianity in modern America these things have proven to be detrimental. One example of this is the gay marriage issue. A literal interpretation of the bible by right-winged conservatives in America has lead to the condemning of gays because of their sensuality. This has been taken to a political level by turning the issue into one of gay marriage and not of homosexuality alone. Many of the people leading the fight against gay marriage are conservative ministers and housewives that meet together for brunch and discuss the abominations that their children are being exposed to. The fight has nothing to do with politics or even with marriage, but rather with the bible suppressing the passions of humans trying to live their lives peacefully and personally.
Another issue is that of stem cell research. Stem cells can be used by scientists to help in finding cures to serious diseases, but almost solely because of religion stem cell research is illegal in the United States. Politicians and citizens alike can argue the general morality of the issue, but most of them openly say that they do not approve of stem cell research because it goes against their Christianity. Not only is religion restricting humans in their personal lives but also indirectly through laws passed like the one’s dealing with stem cell research.
It cannot be denied that Christianity has a huge impact on our society and on our lawmaking process, and one must examine this and realize the impact that it is having on the country. Despite what one believes about religion, infringing upon the freedoms of others who are causing no harm to anyone, or stopping scientific research that can save thousands of lives is the real immoral act.