The book is often considered a classic of humanism and the authors magnum opus. The essence of religion is a classic freethought book from 140 years ago. Translated from the original german by george eliot. His own comments on the style of his writing are insightful both with regard to the content of the book as of the young hegelian movement as a whole. Ludwig feuerbach is traditionally regarded as a significant but transitional figure in the development of nineteenthcentury german thought. His insightful and intuitive works unfurled long after into the efforts of his admirers. Ludwig feuerbach s classic criticism of religion as an outward projection of humankinds own inner qualities. Hegel 17701831, was an outspoken critic of religion, and the 1841 publication of this work established his reputation. A mere glance will show that my investigation includes speculative theology or philosophy.
Ludwig feuerbach lectures on the essence of religion. His argument is that god is a natural projection of man to explain the unexplainable. What we know of god is solely anthropologically based and grounded. Feuerbach and the interpretation of religion van a. For a thousand years the best minds of western civilization helped refine the unsynonymous known as god. I say chiefly, for it was impossible to exclude theology from the first part, or religion from the second.
It explains feuerbach s philosophy and critique of religion. Feuerbach shows how people put their best ideas into christianity. The essence of christianity great books in philosophy. Thinking is our super power, consciousness is what makes us human. To understand why, it is necessary to first briefly outline feuerbach s argument in christianity feuerbach begins christianity by asserting that human beings alone have religion and that it is a result of selfconsciousness which in. Pdf the essence of christianity with a foreword by rachel v. The essence of christianity book by ludwig feuerbach. The essence of christianity by ludwig feuerbach is a book on the idea that god is a manmade creation and that there is no need for the divine in our daily lives.
Ludwig feuerbach 180472, the german philosopher and a founding member of the young hegelians, a group of radical thinkers influenced by g. The essence of christianity from the palmetto reminder, march 5, 2000 it is important in just about everything one does to be able to discern the essential from the incidental, to be able to distinguish between those things that are central and those that are peripheral. With one blow it pulverised the contradiction, in that. The essence of christianity ludwig feuerbach halaman 11 with religion, in the second with theology. Religion is not the motorforce of history but great social changes are expressed in changes in religion. Ludwig feuerbach the essence of christianity religion essay. The essence of christianity wikisource, the free online library. Readings of feuerbach s the essence of christianity tend to focus on those features which made it seem liberating to the young hegelians. Discussion of themes and motifs in ludwig feuerbach s the essence of christianity. John chapman collection toronto digitizing sponsor national institute for newman studies contributor. Like nietzsche, feuerbach made the claim that christianity need be deconstructed and repudiated for true civil progress to occur. The essence of christianity work by feuerbach britannica.
Ludwig feuerbach the essence of christianity world of. The real objective of life is not happiness, or faith, it is really reason, love and force of will. One of the more difficult books ive ever read, but filled with great ideas. Feuerbach begins the essence of christianity by proposing that, since human beings have religion and animals dont, the key to understanding religion must be directly related to whatever it is that most essentially distinguishes human beings from animals. Ebook guidebooks counseling family ludwig feuerbach.
Feuerbach advocated liberalism, atheism, and materialism 3. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. The essence of religion ludwig feuerbach halaman 2 written. Ludwig feuerbach the essence of christianity excerpts1 phil101 prof. The essence of christianity by feuerbach, ludwig, 18041872. The essence of christianity by ludwig feuerbach, paperback. The essence of christianity great books in philosophy ludwig feuerbach i do not generate the object from the thought, but the thought from the object ludwig andreas feuerbach.
The essence of christianity is a book by ludwig feuerbach first published in 1841. Ludwig feuerbach 1804 1872 was best known for his book the essence of christianity, which provided powerful a critique of christianity which strongly influenced generations of later thinkers, including both karl marx and friedrich engels. Feuerbach contends that religion is an expression of humanity, and that the collective potential for reason, affection, and will is the true essence of religion. The work made feuerbach a major public figure, admired by some, unpopular with others, but neglected by few. Introduction from the fiery brook, remainder from the essence of christianity.
Basically feuerbach says that christianity love of christ should really be about love of man, and this is simply because. It was promoted in the early 20th century by george santayana, john dewey, and j. The essence of christianity ludwig feuerbach 1804 1872, translated by george eliot 1819 1880 taking issue with hegels sense that god, as logos, is somehow central to all that is, feuerbach explores his own notion that christianity, as religion, grew. The essence of christianity 1841 by ludwig andreas feuerbach, translated by marian evans preface. The essence of christianity dover philosophical classics. The essence of christianity is the most significant critique of the christian religion published in the nineteenth century. His philosophical writings had a deep understanding and appreciation of theology.
In it, he attempts to explain the origins of christianity, and claims that it can best. Forward to the essence of christianity by ludwig feuerbach. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Ludwig feuerbach download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Ludwig feuerbach the essence of christianity excerpts1. The essence of christianity part 12 full audiobook by ludwig. Using biblical references, dialectics, and ideas from some of the worlds greatest thinkers, he confronts believers with his cogent explanation. Buy the essence of christianity by ludwig feuerbach online at alibris.
The essence of christianity download ebook pdf, epub. With one blow it pulverised the contradiction, in that without circumlocutions it placed materialism on the throne again. Foundations of christianity is a book by marxist theoretician karl kautsky. The essence of christianity feuerbach, ludwig download. Famed german philosopher ludwig feuerbach explores the answer in this, his most influential work, published in german in 1841 and translated by celebrated english novelist george eliot. This, he maintains, is the distinctive kind of consciousness that is involved in the. This text, and this author, occupies a significant place in the history of modern philosophy. Though many seek to label feuerbach as atheist, he denied this assertion, stating that theism is atheism in an ordinary sense. The essence of christianity pdf ludwig feuerbach the essence of christianity. Publication date 1854 usage public domain topics religion philosophy, christianity publisher london. Click download or read online button to get ludwig feuerbach book now. Its author, to marxs mind, successfully criticized hegel, an idealist who believed that matter or existence was inferior to and dependent upon mind or spirit, from the opposite, or materialist, standpoint, showing how the absolute spirit was a. Click download or read online button to get the essence of christianity book now.
The same material is dealt with in feuerbach s book, essence of christianity, reproduced in full in this archive. Pdf on jan 1, 2008, ludwig feuerbach and others published the essence of christianity with a foreword by rachel v lawrence find, read. Answering hegels socalled dialectical idealism, feuerbach proposed an alternative that he called nominalistic materialism. The essence of christianity dover philosophical classics feuerbach, ludwig on. The essence of christianity shows feuerbach in full force as an influential member of a new breed of german philosophers. The essence of christianity feuerbach lust for life. The essence of christianity by ludwig feuerbach free ebook. The essence of christianity by ludwig feuerbach alibris. Lectures on the essence of religion by ludwig feuerbach. Now as to the second reason of feuerbach s obscurity, he was an intellectual acquaintance with other hegelians of his time, and they included friedrich engels and karl marx. Feuerbach s endeavor with this work was to wholly humanize theology. He therefore does not contend with many of the main tenants of lutheranism as they apply to the anthropological essence of religion. The essence of christianity is simple because christianity only has about 16maybe as many as 24 depending upon how you count themprinciples altogether.
685 1486 872 1023 6 939 579 228 638 690 151 1203 1498 273 437 118 1051 365 643 705 1541 431 1163 1366 1264 397 806 149 314 5 1287 543