The human race has never managed to climb out of its immaturity.... Being an adult means looking toward the future not just of yourself but your children and their children as well.... Looked at from the prospective of adulthood and immature behavior as a trait by the majority of the human race we might never achieve the state of maturity as a whole...

It sounds like Nietzsche is speaking about monotheism, not religion in general. Taoist and Buddhists, for example, are much more concerned with the individual and the ‘proper’ way to live your life, which includes truthfulness.

And you are quoting Nietzsche for what purpose?

I think that in the bronze age religion was the best our ancestors could do to answer questions about where we come from, why we're here, the reasons for natural phenomena, and what happens when we die. I can't fault them for their attempt to answer these questions. What is absurd to me is that since developing the scientific method and over the centuries answering more and more of these questions that people still choose to accept these clearly outdated primitive ideas. I think the only reason that anyone could possibly buy in to the claims of the supernatural made by religion in the face of modern physics and biology is because of the comforting idea that we're somehow special and get to have eternal life if we only believe and worship. I think when people become indoctrinated they shut down their ability to think critically because they are terrified of reality. It makes me sad to see such brain washed individuals, particularly when they are children that have never been given the chance to learn to think critically and make their own choice.

Well, that’s not true because new religions were created after he said that.

In Nietzsches time, it was common for people to regard themselves as living in an intellectually mature culture, and western Europe as almost perfected, perhaps we have good reason to be less sure now. But anyway do all cultures mature at the same speed, humans don't, nor do we always remain mature.

We tend to see ourselves as very far advanced intellectually in comparison to our ancestors. The main difference is technology. Reading the ancient Greek philosophers shows that the more things change the more they stay the same.

I agree party, disagree partly. Yes, religions arose in the immaturity of the human species, but because he species had not yet developed the cognitive or intellectual tools to build realistic conceptions of reality.

That is an excellent point. But, now it is liken to a runaway train...the ones who have bought into the insanity...’hook line and sinker’ have no reason to look further!

Not sure I agree with Nietzshe this time THHA. For instance, Christianity and Islam did not grow out of an immature society. Human culture was at least 100,000 years old by then. Egyptian, Chinese, Hindi, Greek and many more had been around wuite awhile.

And have we really learned the obligation to speak truth?

Wow, awesomest quote ever!!