Ludwig Feuerbach (1804-1872) pursued studies in anthropology and philosophy - particularly following Hegel - and from these came his proclaimed stance on secular humanism and atheism. ‘Religion is the dream of the human mind,’ he writes unequivocally.
The Essence of Christianity opens with a preface to the second edition in which he responds boldly to critics. ‘I have only found the key to the cipher of the Christian religion, only extricated its true meaning from the web of contradictions and delusions called theology; but in doing so I have certainly committed a sacrilege...let it be remembered that atheism...is the secret of religion itself.’ The work itself is divided into two parts. Part one is titled ‘The True or Anthropological Essence of Religion’ and part two, ‘The False or Theological Essence of Religion’. In 27 chapters, replete with references supporting his position, he presents his thesis. He considers in some detail ‘God as a Being of the Understanding’, ‘The Mystery of the Trinity and the Mother of God’, ‘The Significance of the Creation in Judaism’ as well as many other issues including mysticism, celibacy, personal immortality and contradictions in the revelation and existence of God. This leads to his assertion, ‘We have shown that the substance and object of religion is altogether human; we have shown that divine wisdom is human wisdom; that the secret of theology is anthropology; that the absolute mind is the so-called finite subjective mind.’ The Essence of Christianity remains a striking text in the 21st century, and George Eliot’s rendering conveys the strong feelings of both author and translator. Feuerbach’s work concludes with a substantial appendix consisting of 22 sections, further illustrating his arguments. This work is read with clarity and commitment by Martyn Swain.
