Nietzsche, Psychohistory, and the Birth of Christianity

Traces the development of Nietzsche’s ideas on Jesus, St. Paul, and early Christianity. Despite characterizing himself as the antichrist, Nietzsche had great respect for Jesus and his message and often identified with his life. His opinion of early Christianity–and particularly of St. Paul; the single most hated figure in Nietzsche’s passionate career–however, was very different. This volume brings order to Nietzsche’s scattered reflections on Jesus, St. Paul, and the birth of Christianity by tracing the development of his ideas and examining the intellectual reality behind his deliberately confrontational remarks concerning early Christianity’s key players. By analyzing exactly what it is that Nietzsche celebrates and identifies with in the life and message of Jesus, and criticizes so harshly in the case of St. Paul, the author provides fresh insight into the mind and the philosophy of one of the 19th century’s most original thinkers.