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The Essence of Christianity / Translated from the second German edition — Ludwig Feuerbach

The Essence of Christianity / Translated from the second German edition

Ludwig Feuerbach

  • Essays
  • Book language: English
  • 365 pages

The Essence of Christianity is a philosophical essay by Ludwig Feuerbach arguing that the idea of God is a projection of human nature, and that theology is essentially anthropology. It invites listeners to reconsider religious representations and offers a humanist reading of Christianity. It is worth hearing as a classic example of nineteenth-century critical thought.

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Cover of the original edition (Project Gutenberg, public domain).

Text source: gutenberg.org · The work is in the public domain.

Opening of the book

Original Title Page.
THE
ENGLISH AND FOREIGN
PHILOSOPHICAL LIBRARY.
THE ESSENCE OF
CHRISTIANITY.
BY

LUDWIG FEUERBACH.
TRANSLATED FROM THE SECOND GERMAN
EDITION
BY
MARIAN EVANS,
TRANSLATOR OF “STRAUSS’S LIFE OF
JESUS.”
Second Edition.
LONDON:
KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRÜBNER, & CO.,
Ltd.
1890.

The rights of translation and of reproduction are reserved.

PUBLISHERS’ NOTE.

The first edition of this work was published in 1854, and, although a large one, has been long out of print. Many inquiries having been made for it since the recent lamented death of the translator, the publishers have determined to offer a second edition to the public, and have been advised to give it a place in their “English and Foreign Philosophical Library.” It is an exact reprint of the first edition, and they trust it will be received with equal favour.

London, June 1881.

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.1

The clamour excited by the present work has not surprised me, and hence it has not in the least moved me from my position. On the contrary, I have once more, in all calmness, subjected my work to the severest scrutiny, both historical and philosophical; I have, as far as possible, freed it from its defects of form, and enriched it with new developments, illustrations, and historical testimonies,—testimonies in the highest degree striking and irrefragable. Now that I have thus verified my analysis by historical proofs, it is to be hoped that readers whose eyes are not sealed will be convinced and will admit, even

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Contents

  1. PUBLISHERS’ NOTE.
  2. PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.1
  3. CONTENTS.
  4. THE ESSENCE OF CHRISTIANITY.
  5. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION.
  6. PART I. THE TRUE OR ANTHROPOLOGICAL ESSENCE OF RELIGION.
  7. CHAPTER II. GOD AS A BEING OF THE UNDERSTANDING.
  8. CHAPTER III. GOD AS A MORAL BEING, OR LAW.
  9. CHAPTER IV. THE MYSTERY OF THE INCARNATION; OR, GOD AS LOVE, AS A BEING OF THE HEART.
  10. CHAPTER V. THE MYSTERY OF THE SUFFERING GOD.
  11. CHAPTER VI. THE MYSTERY OF THE TRINITY AND THE MOTHER OF GOD.
  12. CHAPTER VII. THE MYSTERY OF THE LOGOS AND DIVINE IMAGE.
  13. CHAPTER VIII. THE MYSTERY OF THE COSMOGONICAL PRINCIPLE IN GOD.
  14. CHAPTER IX. THE MYSTERY OF MYSTICISM, OR OF NATURE IN GOD.
  15. CHAPTER X. THE MYSTERY OF PROVIDENCE, AND CREATION OUT OF NOTHING.
  16. CHAPTER XI. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CREATION IN JUDAISM.
  17. CHAPTER XII. THE OMNIPOTENCE OF FEELING, OR THE MYSTERY OF PRAYER.
  18. CHAPTER XIII. THE MYSTERY OF FAITH—THE MYSTERY OF MIRACLE.
  19. CHAPTER XIV. THE MYSTERY OF THE RESURRECTION AND OF THE MIRACULOUS CONCEPTION.
  20. CHAPTER XV. THE MYSTERY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHRIST, OR THE PERSONAL GOD.
  21. CHAPTER XVI. THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN CHRISTIANITY AND HEATHENISM.
  22. CHAPTER XVII. THE CHRISTIAN SIGNIFICANCE OF VOLUNTARY CELIBACY AND MONACHISM.
  23. CHAPTER XVIII. THE CHRISTIAN HEAVEN, OR PERSONAL IMMORTALITY.
  24. PART II. THE FALSE OR THEOLOGICAL ESSENCE OF RELIGION.
  25. CHAPTER XIX. THE ESSENTIAL STANDPOINT OF RELIGION.
  26. CHAPTER XX. THE CONTRADICTION IN THE EXISTENCE OF GOD.
  27. CHAPTER XXI. THE CONTRADICTION IN THE REVELATION OF GOD.
  28. CHAPTER XXII. THE CONTRADICTION IN THE NATURE OF GOD IN GENERAL.
  29. CHAPTER XXIII. THE CONTRADICTION IN THE SPECULATIVE DOCTRINE OF GOD.
  30. CHAPTER XXIV. THE CONTRADICTION IN THE TRINITY.

and 7 more chapters

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