Macmillan

xli
INTRODUCTION
by way
factions.
of distinguishing between these two opposinghuman
A keen and far-reaching analysisof the various asjDects
assumed by religious constitutes a third section of
"Beyond Good and Evil." Though touchingupon various
influencesof Christianity, this section is more generalin its
religious scope than even "The Antichrist," many indications
of which are to be found here. This chapterhas to do with
the numerous inner experiences of man, which are directly or
indirectly attributable to religious doctrines. The originof
the instinct for faith itselfis sought, and the results of this
faith are balanced agains the needs of the individuals and
of the race. The relation between religious ecstasy and
sensuality; the attempt on the part of religious practitioners
to arrive at a negation of the will;the transition from
religious gratitudeto fear;the psychologyat the bottom of
"
saint-worship; to problems such as these Nietzsche devotes
his energies in his inquiryof the religious mood.
There is an illuminating exposition of the importantstages
in religious crueltyand of the motives underlyingthe various
forms of religious sacrifices.
A very importantphase of Nietzsche's teachingis contained
in this criticismof the religious life. The detractors
of the Nietzschean doctrine base their judgmentson the
assumptionthat the universal acceptationof his theories
would result in social chaos. Nietzsche desired no such
generaladoptionof his beliefs. In his bitterest diatribes
againstChristianity his objectwas not to shake the faith of
the great majorityof mankind in their idols. He sought
merely to free the strong men from the restrictions of a
religion which fitted the needs of only the weaker members
of society Ḥe neither hoped nor desired to wean the mass
of humanityfrom Christianity or any similar dogmaticcomfort.
On the contrary, he denounced those superficial atheists
who endeavored to weaken the foundations of religion.
He saw the positivenecessity of such religions as a basis for
his slave-morality, and in the present chapterhe exhorts the
rulers to preserve the religious faith of the servingclasses,
and to use it as a means of as an instrument
government"
in the work of disciplining and educating Ḥis entiresystem