--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the monotheistic age, God was viewed…" description: "\"“In the monotheistic age, God was viewed as the one who causes and does everything, and hence humans were not entitled to make something, let alone a g..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/peter-sloterdijk-8761_asceticism_in-the-monotheistic-age-god-was-viewed-a_1469320.jpg" --- # In the monotheistic age, God was viewed as the one who… ![“In the monotheistic age, God was viewed as the one who causes and does everything, and hence humans were not entitled to make something, let alone a great deal, of themselves. In humanistic epochs, by contrast, man is considered the being responsible for causing and doing everything - but…” quote by Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/peter-sloterdijk-8761_asceticism_in-the-monotheistic-age-god-was-viewed-a_1469320.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/peter-sloterdijk-8761_asceticism_in-the-monotheistic-age-god-was-viewed-a_1469320.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/peter-sloterdijk-8761_asceticism_in-the-monotheistic-age-god-was-viewed-a_1469320.jpg) > ““In the monotheistic age, God was viewed as the one who causes and does everything, and hence humans were not entitled to make something, let alone a great deal, of themselves. In humanistic epochs, by contrast, man is considered the being responsible for causing and doing everything - but consequently no longer has the right to make little or nothing of himself. Whether people now make nothing or much of themselves, they commit - according to traditional forms of logic - an inexplicable and unpardonable error. There is always a surplus of differences that cannot be integrated into any of the prescribed systems of life-interpretation. In a world that belongs to God, human beings make too much of themselves as soon as they raise their heads; in a world that belongs to humans, they repeatedly make too little of themselves. The possibility that the inequality between humans might be due to their asceticisms, their different stances towards the challenges of the practising life - this idea has never been formulated in the history of investigations into the ultimate causes of difference between humans. If one follows this trail, it opens up perspectives that, being unthought-of, are literally unheard-of.”” [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans oscillate between over‑valuing and under‑valuing themselves, leading to a persistent existential error that cannot be fully resolved by existing belief systems. **In simple terms:** We swing between too much and too little self‑importance, creating a paradox. Key Takeaway Recognize and balance self‑esteem without extremes. Themes existentialism humanism self‑worth philosophy Mood reflective critical thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal development - spiritual counseling - educational curricula - public discourse Key Concepts ontological paradox identity meaning Questions to Reflect On - How can societies foster healthy self‑valuation? - What practices help individuals avoid both arrogance and self‑denial? A Different Perspective Balancing self‑esteem is difficult in cultures that reward extremes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asceticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asceticism/) [Ascetics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ascetics/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Secular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secular/) ## Related quotes > [“The extension of the moral-historical perspective makes the meaning of the thesis of the athletic and somatic renaissance apparent. At the transition from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/the-extension-of-the-moral-historical-perspective-makes-the-meaning/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“The de-spiritualization of asceticisms is probably the event in the current intellectual history of mankind that is the most comprehensive and, because of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/the-de-spiritualization-of-asceticisms-is-probably-the-event-in-the/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“Here we should quote especially those sections from Nietzsche's central morality-critical work The Genealogy of Morals that deal with their subject in a diction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/here-we-should-quote-especially-those-sections-from-nietzsche-s/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [ “\[Nietzsche's\] questions - transcend, but where to; ascend, but to what height? - would have answered themselves if he had calmly kept both feet… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/nietzsche-s-questions-transcend-but-where-to-ascend-but-to-what/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“In his differentiation between asceticisms, Nietzsche posited a clear divide between the priestly varieties on the one side, illuminated by his vicious gaze, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/in-his-differentiation-between-asceticisms-nietzsche-posited-a-clear/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“The ascetic planet he sights is the planet of the practising as a whole, the planet of advanced-civilized humans, the planet of those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/the-ascetic-planet-he-sights-is-the-planet-of-the-practising-as-a/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“Nietzsche is no more or less than the Schliemann of asceticisms. In the midst of the excavation sites, surrounded by the psychopathic rubble of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/nietzsche-is-no-more-or-less-than-the-schliemann-of-asceticisms-in/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“There is no 'eugenics' in Nietzsche - despite occasional references to 'breeding'- at least no more than is implicit in the recommendation to choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/there-is-no-eugenics-in-nietzsche-despite-occasional-references-to/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“In the wake of his new division of ascetic opinion, Nietzsche not only stumbles upon the fundamental meaning of the practising life for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/in-the-wake-of-his-new-division-of-ascetic-opinion-nietzsche-not-only/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“In his treatise on the battles between the gods underlying ancient Dionysian theatre, the young Nietzsche notes: 'Alas! The magic of these struggles is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/in-his-treatise-on-the-battles-between-the-gods-underlying-ancient/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“In Nietzsche's usage, the word 'Christianity' does not even refer primarily to the religion; using it like a code word, he is thinking more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/in-nietzsche-s-usage-the-word-christianity-does-not-even-refer/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“The stakes in this game are not low. Our enterprise is no less than the introduction of an alternative language, and with the language…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/the-stakes-in-this-game-are-not-low-our-enterprise-is-no-less-than/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“You can be a bad experiencer and still be an overly mature person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhaidev/you-can-be-a-bad-experiencer-and-still-be-an-overly-mature-person/) [Abhaidev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhaidev/) > [“The Way of the Ascetics”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-shenouda-monastery/the-way-of-the-ascetics/) St Shenouda Monastery > [ \[Concerning monotheistic religions\] The only thing these hysterical cults have in common is the belief that this world will be consumed, and deservedly so,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/concerning-monotheistic-religions-the-only-thing-these-hysterical/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## More by Peter Sloterdijk > [“Cultural criticism always attacks the mass media. I don't think that makes sense. We should look more closely at the work of deformation that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/cultural-criticism-always-attacks-the-mass-media-i-don-t-think-that/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“A completely different aspect, however, the thoroughly incommensurable one, lies in the imposition of accepting that the torso sees me while I observe it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/a-completely-different-aspect-however-the-thoroughly-incommensurable/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [Ventilation is the profound secret of existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/ventilation-is-the-profound-secret-of-existence/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“In this book, we will naturally be dealing primarily with the manifestations of the third level of immunity. I gather material on the biography…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/in-this-book-we-will-naturally-be-dealing-primarily-with-the/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“As in the days of the first Merovingian, who pledged allegiance to the cross because of a victorious battle, today's children of the banalized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/as-in-the-days-of-the-first-merovingian-who-pledged-allegiance-to-the/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“In his treatise on the battles between the gods underlying ancient Dionysian theatre, the young Nietzsche notes: 'Alas! The magic of these struggles is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/in-his-treatise-on-the-battles-between-the-gods-underlying-ancient/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“It is not sufficient, he emphasized, to colour (colorare) the mind with wisdom; it must be pickled (macerare) in it, as it were, soaked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/it-is-not-sufficient-he-emphasized-to-colour-colorare-the-mind-with/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“What appears in the former statue of Apollo, however, cannot simply be equated with the Olympian of the same name, who had to ensure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/what-appears-in-the-former-statue-of-apollo-however-cannot-simply-be/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“This much should be clear by now: the term 'renaissance' can only remain fruitful and demanding as long as it refers to a far-reaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/this-much-should-be-clear-by-now-the-term-renaissance-can-only-remain/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“As the following pages deal with the practising life, they lead - in accordance with their topic - to an expedition into the little-explored…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/as-the-following-pages-deal-with-the-practising-life-they-lead-in/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“Something is indeed returning today - but the conventional wisdom that this is religion making its reappearance is insufficient to satisfy critical inquiries. Nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/something-is-indeed-returning-today-but-the-conventional-wisdom-that/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“Here we should quote especially those sections from Nietzsche's central morality-critical work The Genealogy of Morals that deal with their subject in a diction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/here-we-should-quote-especially-those-sections-from-nietzsche-s/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“In his field, and with his means, Rilke carries out an operation that one could philosophically describe as the 'transformation of being into message'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/in-his-field-and-with-his-means-rilke-carries-out-an-operation-that/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“This background enables us to understand a fact that is symptomatic of the current phase of saturation: there are countless people who want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/this-background-enables-us-to-understand-a-fact-that-is-symptomatic/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [ “\[Nietzsche's\] questions - transcend, but where to; ascend, but to what height? - would have answered themselves if he had calmly kept both feet… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/nietzsche-s-questions-transcend-but-where-to-ascend-but-to-what/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) [Explore all 71 Peter Sloterdijk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) ## More Asceticism quotes > [The religion of art, like the religion of politics, was born from the ruins of Christianity. Art inherited from the old religion the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/the-religion-of-art-like-the-religion-of-politics-was-born-from-the/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Fie on the eloquence that leaves us craving itself, not things!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/fie-on-the-eloquence-that-leaves-us-craving-itself-not-things/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The beauty of a cuckoo is in its notes, that of a woman in her unalloyed devotion to her husband, that of an ugly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/the-beauty-of-a-cuckoo-is-in-its-notes-that-of-a-woman-in-her/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The principle of asceticism never was, nor ever can be, consistently pursued by any living creature. Let but one tenth part of the inhabitants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-bentham/the-principle-of-asceticism-never-was-nor-ever-can-be-consistently/) [Jeremy Bentham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-bentham/) > [“In his treatise on the battles between the gods underlying ancient Dionysian theatre, the young Nietzsche notes: 'Alas! The magic of these struggles is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/in-his-treatise-on-the-battles-between-the-gods-underlying-ancient/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [Catholicism is not ritualism; it may in the future be fighting some sort of superstitious and idolatrous exaggeration of ritual. Catholicism is not asceticism;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/catholicism-is-not-ritualism-it-may-in-the-future-be-fighting-some/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [“A Christian who practices asceticism trains himself to say no to his desires and yes to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-dreher/a-christian-who-practices-asceticism-trains-himself-to-say-no-to-his/) [Rod Dreher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-dreher/) > [The main motive for nonattachment is a desire to escape from the pain of living, and above all from love, which, sexual or non-sexual,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-main-motive-for-nonattachment-is-a-desire-to-escape-from-the-pain/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Dieting is our last tie with asceticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/dieting-is-our-last-tie-with-asceticism/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [When you reach your sixties, you have to decide whether you're going to be a sot or an ascetic. In other words if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/when-you-reach-your-sixties-you-have-to-decide-whether-you-re-going/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [Everybody who does not live in a prostitute's bed and on a diet of cocaine snow is called an ascetic nowadays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/everybody-who-does-not-live-in-a-prostitute-s-bed-and-on-a-diet-of/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Genuine asceticism for finding one's own soul and for the good of humanity is worthy of reverence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rama-swami/genuine-asceticism-for-finding-one-s-own-soul-and-for-the-good-of/) [Rama Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rama-swami/) > [Many modern scholars have found the asceticism expressed in Plato unacceptable; it does not sound like the advice of a reasonable man in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mcevilley/many-modern-scholars-have-found-the-asceticism-expressed-in-plato/) [Thomas McEvilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mcevilley/) > [The dunyâ distracts and preoccupies the heart and body, but al-zuhd (asceticism, not giving importance to worldly things) gives rest to the heart and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-of-basra/the-duny-distracts-and-preoccupies-the-heart-and-body-but-al-zuhd/) [Hasan of Basra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-of-basra/) > [Asceticism is the right way of thinking for those who have to extirpate their sensual drives because they are ravening beasts of prey. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/asceticism-is-the-right-way-of-thinking-for-those-who-have-to/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) [Browse all 113 Asceticism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asceticism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In the monotheistic age, God was viewed as the one who causes and does everything, and hence humans were not entitled to make something, let alone a great deal, of themselves. In humanistic epochs, by contrast, man is considered the being responsible for causing and doing everything - but consequently no longer has the right to make little or nothing of himself. Whether people now make nothing or much of themselves, they commit - according to traditional forms of logic - an inexplicable and unpardonable error. There is always a surplus of differences that cannot be integrated into any of the prescribed systems of life-interpretation. In a world that belongs to God, human beings make too much of themselves as soon as they raise their heads; in a world that belongs to humans, they repeatedly make too little of themselves. The possibility that the inequality between humans might be due to their asceticisms, their different stances towards the challenges of the practising life - this idea has never been formulated in the history of investigations into the ultimate causes of difference between humans. 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