NIETZSCHE, GOD, AND THE JEWS NIETZSCHE, GOD, AND THE JEWS His Critique of Judea-Christianity in Relation to the Nazi Myth by Weaver Santaniello foreword by David Tracy STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK PRESS Published by State University of New York Press, Albany © 1994 State University of New York All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information, address the State University of New York Press, State University Plaza, Albany, NY 12246 Production by Christine Lynch Marketing by Fran Keneston Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Santaniello, Weaver, 1958- Nietzsche, God, and the Jews: his critique of Juden-Christianity in relation to the Nazi myth / by Weaver Santaniello; foreword by David Tracy. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7914-2135-X (alk. paper). - ISBN 0-7914-2136-8 (pbk.: alk. paper) I. Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm, 1844-1900-Religion. 2. Christianity and antisemitism. I. Title. B3318.C35S26 1994 261.2'6'092-dc20 93-46690 CIP 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 I The author and SUNY Press sincerely thank the following publishers for permissioIl to use excerpts from copyrighted works: RANDOM HOUSE: The Gay Sciellce by Friedrich Nietzsche. Copyright © 1974 by Random House, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Random House, Inc. 011 the Gellealogy of Momls by Friedrich Nietzsche. Copyright <D 1967 by Random House, Inc. Reprinted by permissioIl of Random House, Inc. Ecce HOlllo by Friedrich Nietzsche. Copyright © 1967 by Random House, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Random House, Inc. Beyolld Good alld Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche. Copyright <D 1966 by Random House, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Random House, Inc. The Will to POl\'er by Friedrich Nietzsche. Copyright © 1967 by Walter Kaufmann, Reprinted by permission of Random House, Inc. VIKING PRESS: "The Antichrist" by Friedrich Nietzsche, edited by Walter Kauf mann, "Nietzsche Contra Wagner" by Friedrich Nietzsche, edited by Walter Kauf mann, "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" by Friedrich Nietzsche, edited by Walter Kaufmann, "Twilight of the Idols" by Friedrich Nietzsche, edited by Walter Kaufmann, from The Portahle Niet::'.I'che by Walter Kaufmann, editor. translated by Walter Kaufmann. Trans lation copyright 1954 by the Viking Press, renewed <D 19X2 by Viking Penguin Inc. Used by permission of Viking Penguin, a division of Penguin Books USA Inc. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS: Dayhreak: Thollghts Oil the P/'(~illdices of MOl'{flirv by Friedrich Nieusche, translated by R. J. Hollingdale. <D Cambridge Univer sity Press 19X2. Reprinted with the permission of Cambridge University Press and R. 1. Hollingdale. THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS: Selected Letters of Friedrich Nietzsche, edited and translated by Christopher Middleton. Copyright <D 1969 by The University of Chicago. Reprinted by permission of The University of Chicago Press. HARV ARD UNIVERSITY PRESS: Nict:: .. I'chc: A Self-jJortmitfrolll his Leffel's, edited and translated by Peter Fuss and Henry Shapiro. Copyright <D 1971 by Harvard Uni versity Press. Reprinted by permission of Harvard University Press. Dedicated with thanks and respect in memory of Erich Heller ... the heiRhts where you find him link him in friendship to ... the unrecoRnized (~r all times. -Nietzsche (1882-85) CONTENTS Foreword Xl Abbreviations XlIl Acknowledgments xv Introduction PART I: NIETZSCHE'S LIFE AND CULTURAL CHRISTIANITY, 1844-1900 7 I. Nietzsche's Early Years and the Break with Wagner 9 2. Zarathustra's World contra the Sister's 29 3. Christianity, Culture, and the Vo/k 47 PART II: THE MATURE WRITINGS, 1883-1888 67 4. Thus Spoke Zarathllstra: Creation, Redemption, and the Birth of a Dancing Star 69 5. Toward the Genea/ogy of Mora/s: The Dionysian Drama of the Destiny of the Soul 91 6. Antichrist: The Justice of Yahweh versus the Judgment of Christ 115 Conclusion: The Nazis' Mythologizing of Nietzsche 137 Nores 155 Select Bibliography 207 Index 215 IX