Absurd Quote by Friedrich Nietzsche
“. . . an absurd problem came to the surface: 'How COULD God permit that (crucifixion of Jesus Christ)!' . . . the deranged reason of the little community found quite a frightfully absurd answer: God gave his Son for forgiveness, as a SACRIFICE . . . The SACRIFICE FOR GUILT, and just in its most repugnant and barbarous form - the sacrifice of the innocent for the sins of the guilty! What horrifying heathenism!”
About This Quote
Source Philosophical Essay: The Problem of Evil, 1887
The notion that an innocent is sacrificed for the guilty is seen as a grotesque moral paradox, exposing the absurdity of divine justification.
In simple terms: Sacrificing the innocent for the guilty is absurd and morally repugnant.
Key Takeaway
Question the moral logic of sacrificial narratives.
Themes
ethics
theology
philosophy
critique of religion
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- theology
- moral philosophy
- literary criticism
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
Moral paradox
absurdity
divine justification
Questions to Reflect On
- What alternatives exist to the sacrificial model?
- Can guilt be addressed without innocent suffering?
A Different Perspective
The critique may ignore the symbolic value of sacrifice in cultural cohesion.
![“The Savior… endured the agony [of Gethsemane], of inquisition, cruel beatings, and death by crucifixion on the cross at Calvary. Recently, there has been a great deal of commentary about this, none of which has made clear the singular point that no one had the power to take the Savior’s life from…” quote by M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/604/m-russell-ballard-3129_bible_the-savior-endured-the-agony-of-gethsema_934810.jpg)
