“Ladder of Religious Cruelty” - “Beyond Good and Evil”
Nietzsche expounds, “There is a great ladder of religious cruelty, with many rounds; but three of these are the most important. Once on a time men sacrificed human beings to their God, and perhaps just those they loved the best—to this category belong the firstling sacrifices of all primitive religions…Then, during the moral epoch of mankind, they sacrificed to their God the strongest instincts they possessed, their "nature";…Finally, what still remained to be sacrificed? Was it not necessary in the end for men to sacrifice everything comforting, holy, healing, all hope, all faith in hidden harmonies, in future blessedness and justice?” The ladder depicts the evolution of sacrifices. Sacrificing humans, instincts and everything depicts the cruelty of religion which compels the adherents to surrender valuable things. The unwillingness to surrender results in the conclusion that one is not religious. Religious sacrifices result in opportunity costs that cannot be recovered by the individuals who make the sacrifices. Therefore, based on the ladder, religion is extremely costly and inconveniencing due to the hurting nature of the sacrifices which must be endured.
Brahmins - “Beyond Good and Evil”
Nietzsche observes, “ The Brahmins, for instance, understood this fact. With the help of a religious organization, they secured to themselves the power of nominating kings for the people, while their sentiments prompted them to keep apart and outside, as men with a higher and super-regal mission. At the same time religion gives inducement and opportunity to some of the subjects to qualify themselves for future ruling and commanding the slowly ascending ranks and classes, in which, through fortunate marriage customs, volitional power and delight in self-control are on the increase.” Brahmins exhibit extraordinary spirituality which is grounded on well-organized religious principles. Through religion, the Brahmins exercise self-regulation and strive to achieve contentment in life. They possess a willpower that motivates them to be self-disciplined and to avoid unnecessary over-indulgences.
“Popular Song” - “The Birth of Tragedy”
Nietzsche elucidates, “Any one who in accordance with this theory examines a collection of popular songs, such as "Des Knaben Wunderhorn," will find innumerable instances of the perpetually productive melody scattering picture sparks all around: which in their variegation, their abrupt change, their mad precipitance, manifest a power quite unknown to the epic appearance and its steady flow. From the point of view of the epos, this unequal and irregular pictorial world of lyric poetry must be simply condemned.” Popular songs are comparable to poetry due to their melody. Melodious tunes employed in the songs charm the listeners. Besides, lyrics employed in popular songs can be transformed into epic poetry compositions, and the pictorial images incorporated in the popular songs are applicable in poems as well.
