Nietzsche said God is dead – So Man Stepped In…

* In this commentary, you may replace God with “Higher Power” or “Supreme Being” if you find these options more fitting, comfortable, or acceptable, but it’s important that we look to something or someone greater than ourselves for guidance.

“We have usurped many of the powers we once ascribed to God… fearful and unprepared, we have assumed lordship over life and death of the whole world of all living things.” ~ John Steinbeck

In 1882, Friedrich Nietzsche stated, “God is dead. “God remains dead. And we have killed him…” It appears in The Gay Science (1882) and Thus Spoke Zarathustra. It indicates that Enlightenment rationalism and secularization rendered the Christian God unbelievable as a basis for morality, foreseeing a rise in nihilism and a loss of objective meaning. ~ The Gay Science, in this context, refers to being carefree, happy, or bright; not related to homosexuality.

My, how things have changed…

Zarathustra, also known as Zoroaster, was an ancient Iranian prophet and religious reformer from the 2nd millennium BCE who founded Zoroastrianism, one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions. Living between the 16th and 6th centuries BCE, he promoted the worship of a single supreme God, Ahura Mazda, and emphasized ethical dualism—the struggle between truth and cosmic order (Asha) and falsehood or deception (Druj); these are seen as good and evil.

So, since we killed God, who has taken His place?

In Nietzsche’s philosophy, the Übermensch (Superman) replaces God (Gott) as the new source of meaning, value, and moral authority. Following the “death of God”—the loss of a universal, objective moral framework—the Übermensch, Gott, represents the future, self-possessing human who creates their own values and affirms life. It’s the ideal of human excellence, not a deity, but a self-surpassing individual who overcomes nihilism and embraces the “will to power” to define their own existence.

It’s definitely no coincidence that Hitler saw the German Aryan race as these Übermensch – God.

Convenient, not just a coincidence…

This is the basis of my commentary…

I listened carefully to several recordings, posts, and ‘news’ articles by respected presenters over the past few days, trying to understand current issues, especially those regarding the decline of American morality, ethics, and values. I then realized that since we’ve taken on the role of God in our lives and promoted ourselves to Übermensch – Superman – Gott, we’ve turned everything into a total mess, a dog’s breakfast.

A “dog’s breakfast” is a British idiom for a complete mess – a chaotic, disorganized, or poorly executed piece of work. It describes something handled without care or order, serving as a synonym for a hodgepodge or disaster. Similar terms include fiasco, shambles, mess, and botch-up. America…

I am English, you know…

Yet, somehow, we manage to clean up most messes and repair the damage we cause in God’s name. Monotheism, the belief in a single all-powerful God, dates back about 4,000 years, and our effort to explain the world’s order, reason, and assign blame for our conditions goes back around 100,000 years. This is a deeper topic than I want to explore right now. It should be enough to say that after man killed God, we stepped in to take control.

Mankind’s Learning Disabilities

This is specifically aimed at our government, Congress – the opposite of progress — which seems unable to leave ‘well enough alone’. It’s tough to contain their Übermensch tendencies, insatiable greed, or ambitious appetites; after all, we are supermen who operate beyond traditional Christian values, morality, and ethics. However, that in no way absolves us of responsibility for our personal choices and decisions.

Note to Congress – the opposite of progress… Memento mori – Latin for ‘remember you must die’ – we translate this as ‘remember you are mortal’ – you are not God. This is not a threat, but a reminder that nothing, not even Congress – the opposite of progress, lasts forever.

It’s documented that when a Roman emperor or general rode into the city in his chariot after a major military victory, a slave stood right behind him whispering the phrase… Memento mori – remember, you will die… implying that for today, he might be a hero, but he is not divine, and he will eventually die…

The practice aimed to prevent excessive pride (hubris or audacity) by reminding the victor that they are only human, not a god.

I can picture a new slogan in bold – ‘Trumpian Gold’ letters above the entrance to Congress – the opposite of progress…

– In Deo confidimus, sed memento te non esse deum.

Translation – In God we trust, but remember you are not God.

The Proof that God exists…

Congress – the opposite of progress – has been a ‘burr under my saddle’ for a very long time. It’s not the institution that bothers me; it’s what it’s become, and even more, what our complacency has allowed it to turn into. Since we’ve taken on roles that should belong to God in all of mankind’s affairs, some proof of our good work would be appreciated; Congress – the opposite of progress, ain’t it.

My brother-in-law, David, recently said that I’m too hard on the American public, blaming them for the chaos in Washington, D.C., and the crazy choices we make when electing politicians.

Well, if we don’t take responsibility for our choices, then who will?

When a man tries to take on God’s role as the ultimate authority, judge, or creator, it often leads to failure, tyranny, and corruption. Instead of fulfilling our true purpose, this overreach causes serious, often negative effects for both individuals and society. True fulfillment for a man comes from living under God’s (or another Higher Power’s) authority and embodying those qualities or character.

Key consequences and themes:

– Tyranny and Failure: Trying to play God results in corrupt, destructive, and ultimately doomed leadership.

– Loss of True Identity: When a man who acts as God neglects his call to humility and service to humanity, he fails to fulfill his role as a steward.

– Disruption of Purpose: A man is meant to be a “viceregent” (ruling on God’s behalf with care and justice) rather than the origin of law himself, notes The Gospel Coalition.

– Negative Societal Impact: Conversely, when men do not fulfill their proper, submissive role, it results in broken families, higher crime rates, and societal decline.

In Christian theology, Adam is mainly held responsible for humanity’s fall. As the leader of the human race, his disobedience against God’s command brought sin, suffering, and death into the world. Satan is viewed as the one who initiated the fall, having tempted Eve and causing the downward spiral of human history through pride. While many doctrines see Adam as primarily responsible, Eve is recognized as having sinned first, influenced by temptation. Humans are inherently flawed, meaning fallibility is part of our current state of being ‘fallen.”

The parable and metaphor of Adam and Eve emphasize boundaries and the consequences of human arrogance and daring. Some Christians see it as the original sin, but its real meaning is much simpler. It’s about the effects of assuming God’s role.

Let me summarize… Mankind chose not to follow the rules, and in doing so, created all the problems we face today. The key to understanding our fall from God’s grace is about choice… Our choice… We can blame others all we want, but the person ultimately responsible is the one looking back at you in the mirror: it’s the painful reminder of burden and duty – YOU!

I may be entirely mistaken, but wasn’t the purpose of the US Constitution to enable voting and electing representatives who establish a constitutional federal representative democracy (republic), and to carry out the will of the people?

It’s an open question, but who marks the boxes on the ballots that put them into office? I’ll avoid diving into that obvious lawful/illegal electorate rabbit hole or stolen elections.

If it breaks, fix it; if it isn’t broken, mess with it until it breaks; then mess with it more until you forget what it was supposed to do before you started to ‘fix’ it.

There are always things that need maintenance and repair, but most programs and processes work as intended rather than requiring urgent fixes; they all tend to create opportunities for loopholes or backdoors for corruption during regular maintenance cycles. Additionally, there are ‘purpose-built’ programs designed to redirect funds from any account balance, whether positive or negative.

A quick side note: Our decisions, especially our choices to keep borrowing money to fund these programs, are absolutely reckless. The current national debt is quickly approaching $39 trillion, with interest payments reaching $1 trillion this year. At our current rate of spending, the $40 trillion mark isn’t far off. The word ‘unsustainable’ comes to mind, meaning this can’t continue, but our decisions – indeed, our decisions – make this inevitable, with an annual growth rate of $2 trillion. Oh, your share of this debt is currently $116,370; that’s per person.

For detail-oriented audience members, the debt rose by $36.1 billion from March 9th to March 10th.

Oh my God – whoever that might be right now… What have we done?

America clearly has a learning disability!

Six Sexes?

The concept of the “six sexes” argument relates to atypical variations in human sex chromosomes.

– XX: Typically associated with females.

– XY: Typically associated with males.

– X (Turner Syndrome): A single X chromosome.

– XXY (Klinefelter Syndrome): An extra X chromosome.

– XYY (Jacobs Syndrome): An extra Y chromosome.

– XXXY: A rare variation of Klinefelter syndrome with multiple extra sex chromosomes.

The last four variations are classified as mutations that affect only 2% of Americans and are called ‘intersex’ traits; there are no sexually descriptive names for them, yet the latest inclusion doctrine includes them for partisan political purposes. Since we’ve assumed our role as Übermensch, we can create whatever labels we need to keep everyone categorized.

Everything must have a label!

Intersex traits do not directly cause transgender or transsexual desires because intersex relates to physical sex characteristics, while transgender is about gender identity.

However, since intersex individuals are often assigned a binary gender at birth that might not match their internal sense of self or physical development, they may have a higher chance of identifying as transgender, non-binary, or experiencing gender dysphoria. There are links to high-pressure social media and negative stereotypical media portrayals that stigmatize individuals… It is both physical and psychological, but “not-so-social media” plays a significant role in dysphoria.

Gender dysphoria is a persistent feeling of discomfort or distress that occurs when a person’s internal sense of their gender (gender identity) does not match the sex they were assigned at birth based on their genitals. It involves emotional pain, anxiety, or discomfort caused by this mismatch, not just the mismatch itself. Factors likely include genetic, biological, environmental, and cultural influences.

I wonder who supports and fosters these dysphoric illusions?

As Übermensch, we must be very cautious when assigning labels. Once someone is categorized, society expects — or even demands — that they embody those traits, or else they are viewed as not true to their authentic self. Remember, self-awareness is the first step toward self-actualization and societal acceptance.

My lovely granddaughter attended a state indoctrination center (public school) in Arizona. Her fourth-grade teacher convinced her to adopt a vegan diet because killing and eating animals was murder, and to question her ‘assigned gender’. She and her parents are in counseling, and she insists on being addressed as Toby. I’ve watched a bright and gifted young lady become a victim of intrusive and meddlesome interference from a teacher – her Übermensch.

I’m way past angry…

While research continues, the scientific consensus is that sexual orientation is heavily rooted in biology and develops very early in life, making it a natural variation in human sexuality.

Bullshit!

I mention this because there’s a U.S. Senate candidate in Texas who is reinterpreting the Bible for political reasons. He claims that God is non-binary and that transsexuals, especially trans men, also need abortion rights. His list of interpretations goes on endlessly. I do not judge this man; I simply use his words to show how our decisions and choices can appear to someone watching from the outside. Imagine how this particular situation looks to someone from an entirely different or foreign culture.

There is a tear in America’s political fabric. Partisan politics has torn the country apart to win voter support and maintain the power of political parties. It’s not what’s best for the republic; it’s what keeps the party in control. We, the citizens, are just a means to their ends. We’re merely tools used to achieve their goals. That is, to win elections, gain control of the government, and push their specific policy platforms, ideologies, their interpretation of the US Constitution, and how it’s applied.

Hypocrisy or Compromise?

Killing each other?

Why not… we killed God in the 19th century, so why stop?

I believe our attacks on God began long before the 19th century. They started when mankind doubted God’s relevance in the world as our knowledge surpassed our understanding, and our inventions exceeded our ability to control our passions. We had the curiosity and intellect but lacked the wisdom to use them accordingly. As our ability to shape our environments to satisfy our desires grew, we lost the need for a higher power because, as Nietzsche implied, we became Übermensch and self-actualized, with a superior perception of reality — our own version, not the one we actually live in.

But… just because you can, doesn’t mean you should, which is where believing in a higher power to regulate our ambitions comes into play.

The 20th century was the deadliest period in human history, with about 200 million deaths caused by war, genocide, and state-sponsored mass killings. Major contributors included World War II (70-85 million), World War I, and mass executions by communist regimes, along with genocides such as the Holocaust (6 million) and those in Armenia and Cambodia. All were driven by ideology, regardless of how they started or who initiated violence; it was fueled by greed, which was often easily justified or ignored.

It appears we are on track to surpass the horrific achievements of the 20th century. So far, the ‘best-guess’ estimate exceeds 20 million based on the criteria above, but does not include our genetic experiments that created the Wuhan virus – the one you know as Covid-19. Here’s a prime example of our hubris: the US engineered a super-bug through gene manipulation and released it into the world to take down a political regime in America.

This is my theory, but the facts support my claim. The Wuhan virus killed over 7.2 million people worldwide and cost an estimated $82 trillion to the global economy. Dr. Fauci played a godlike role in creating this pandemic, though I doubt, he was directly involved in its development, he authorized and supported its creation in a Wuhan, China, bio-lab.

Because the ends justify the means, don’t they?

Greed is mankind’s siren song, irresistible and captivating.

AI explains that greed is an excessive, selfish desire for more than one needs or deserves, especially regarding wealth, power, or food. It is marked by an insatiable craving, often resulting in unethical actions or exploiting others for personal gain. Synonyms include avarice, covetousness, rapacity, cupidity, and selfishness. I believe it’s necessary to include megalomania, the obsession with exercising power; a delusional belief in one’s own influence or greatness.

My focus is on mankind assuming God’s role, highlighting the arrogance of human self-deification, the temptation to dominate life, and the consequences of replacing God with human ambition. Main themes include the dangerous belief in divine power, the vanity of self-worship, and the inherent idolatry of valuing human authority above all.

I’m not the judge or jury, just an imperfect fellow traveler on this journey, observing the world with the tools at hand, fully aware that they, too, are our creations, along with all our innate pretensions and recklessness.

“We have usurped many of the powers we once ascribed to God. Fearful and unprepared, we have assumed lordship over life and death of the whole world of all living things. Having taken God-like power, we must seek in ourselves for the responsibility and the wisdom we once prayed some deity might have. So that today, St. John the Apostle may well be paraphrased, In the end is the word and the word is man, and the word is with men.” ~ Religion: According to John Steinbeck

I wish I’d said that… It sums up this entire article in 81 words, but I had fun writing the other 2779 or so…

“Let the average man be put to the proof on the question of who or what is ABOVE… God and self, God and human love, and God will take second place every time.” ~ A.W. Tozer

‘The devil you say…’

For the Amalgamated Heavy…

March 17, 2026

~ the Author ~
Charles R. Dickens Was Born in 1951, Is a Veteran of the Vietnam War, for Which He Volunteered, and the Great-Great Grandson of the Noted Author, Whose Name He Shares.

He Is a Fiercely Proud American, Who Still Believes This Is the Greatest Country on the Planet, With Which We’ve Lost Control and Certainly Our Direction. He Grew Up in Moderate Financial Surrounding; We’re Not Rich by Any Stretch, but Didn’t Go Hungry – His Incredibly Hard Working Father Saw to That. As Most From That Era, He Learned About Life From His Father, Whose Story Would Take Too Long to Tell, Other Than to Say That, He Is Also a Fiercely Proud American; A WWII and Korean War, Veteran Marine.

Charlie Was Educated in the Parochial System Which, Demanded That You Actually Learn Something, and Have Capability to Retain It Before You Advance. He Attended Several Universities in Pursuit of a Bachelor’s Degree, and Chased the Goose Further to a Master’s, and Has Retained Some Very Definite Ideas About Education in This Country.

in Addition, Charlie Is a Retired Blues Guitar and Vocalist – a Musician. This Was His Therapy Career. Nothing Brings Him as Much Joy as Playing Music, and He Wishes That He Could Make a Living at It… but Alas… Life Goes on!