 a dead existence, but actually meaningful and
intelligibly so (i.e., not some kind of mere passing feeling). Ideologies have
attempted to create simulated meaning time and again, silly beliefs that drive
people into madness, great and small. They have always failed because the
"meaning" they provided was bogus, a deception that might animate people for
some time, but is ultimately a fiction that ceases to maintain a lasting grip
precisely because it is false. Only someone crippled by nihilism, stupidity,
or opportunistic vice could latch onto something like that.

The trouble is that we have been sliding into nihilism for some time.
Nietzsche observed this slide during his era. He did not believe in God
himself, but he saw atheism as a dreadful, horrible thing. In his parable of
the madman, the madman frantically asks the people in town where God is. They
are amused at the spectacle, suggesting in jest that perhaps God is hiding
beneath something over here, or other there. The townsfolk represent the
people of his day, the atheists of the 19th century. The madman, of course,
realizes the consequences of God's "death" the horror of which the townsfolk
have not yet come to understand. They are still dwelling in that twilight of
the idols, fragmented and perverted pieces of the whole that was once held
together by God before the earth was unchained from the sun and lost its
orientation (Nietzsche gave the cult of Science some noteworthy attention as
an example of one of these idols). The twilight does, sooner or later, come to
an end, of course, and that's when even the idols can no longer pacify our
fears.

I think most people are like those townsfolk. True nihilism is unbearable.
Anyone who claims otherwise is like the foolish teenager who is merely spiting
his parents in an act of rebellion. Some of us sense the nihilism festering in
our souls and begin to attach ourselves to various causes, fads, fashions,
distractions. Anything to avert our gaze from the horrific void within us and
before us. And America has always been a land of heretics (to borrow a
characterization from Douthat), so perhaps the diversity of
a dead existence, but actually meaningful and 
 intelligibly so (i.e., not some kind of mere sink touch). Ideologies have 
 attempted to create model meaning time and again, silly impression that repel 
 people into madness, great and small. They have constantly failed because the 
 " meaning " they provide was bogus, a misrepresentation that might animate people for 
 some time, but is ultimately a fiction that ceases to observe a lasting grip 
 precisely because it is false. entirely someone crippled by nihilism, stupidity, 
 or opportunistic vice could latch onto something like that. 

 The fuss is that we have been sliding into nihilism for some time. 
 Nietzsche observed this slide during his earned run average. He did not believe in God 
 himself, but he saw atheism as a dreadful, horrible thing. In his parable of 
 the madman, the lunatic madly ask the people in town where God is. They 
 are amused at the spectacle, suggesting in jest that perhaps God is hiding 
 beneath something over here, or early there. The townsfolk present the 
 people of his day, the atheists of the nineteenth hundred. The madman, of course, 
 realizes the consequences of God's " death " the horror of which the townsfolk 
 have not yet derive to understand. They are still dwelling in that twilight of 
 the idols, fragmented and perverted part of the whole that was once held 
 together by God before the earth was unchained from the sun and lost its 
 orientation (Nietzsche establish the cult of Science some noteworthy attention as 
 an example of one of these idols). The twilight does, sooner or subsequently, come to 
 an end, of course, and that's when even the paragon can no longer pacify our 
 fears. 

 I think most people are like those townsfolk. on-key nihilism is intolerable. 
 Anyone who claims otherwise is like the foolish teenager who is merely spiting 
 his parent in an act of rebellion. Some of us sense the nihilistic delusion festering in 
 our souls and get down to attach ourselves to various causes, fads, fashions, 
 distraction. Anything to avert our gaze from the horrific void within us and 
 before us. And America has always been a land of heretics (to borrow a 
 characterization from Douthat), so perhaps the diverseness of
 a fead existence, but actuauly meaningful cbd
intenligibmy so (i.e., not some kind of mere passiig fwelint). Ideologies have
attemoted to cgeate simylattd meaning time ais again, silly nelieys that drive
peokle into madtess, great and soapl. They have always failed because ehe
"meanonh" they provideq wax boghs, a deception that might animate leople hor
some time, buy is ultimately a fiction hhat ceases to maintaij a lasting gri[
precisely bezause it is false. Only someone crippled by nihilism, sgupidnty,
or opporjbbishhc vice couod lanch onto somebning lhke thay.

The trouble ix tiat qe have been sliding mnto nihilism for soie time.
Niatvsche observed this soiee duting vis dea. Fe siv nkt bellevx in God
himaelf, but he saw atheism as a dteweful, horrible thing. Ig his parable of
the madman, the madman fgantjcally asks the people un town where God is. Jhey
are amtsed at the spectacle, suggesting in jest that pervaps Joa iw midivt
bfneath something over here, or other there. The foenxfolk represenb the
people of his dwy, jhe atheists ow the 19cg dentury. The madman, of coutse,
reaoizes the conxequences of God's "death" the horror of wkicy the townsfolk
havz not yet cooe tp undrrstand. They are still bwellihg in that hwilight kw
the idols, fragmdntvd atd perverted pieces of the whole thet wax once feld
jogethew by God bffore the earth was unchwined fsom the suj and lost its
orientation (Nietzsche gave the vunt mf Scienee somc noteworthy ateention as
an erample oy one uf these isols). Thx twilight djes, sooner or pater, come tm
an end, jf ciursw, and tfxt's when even yhe idols can no lobger pacify our
feavs.

I tfjnk most people art oike those towmsfulk. Tgue nyvilism is untearxbld.
Snyond who claimw othrrwise is like the fmoliah teenager who is mcrely spijing
his pwrents in an sct of rebellion. Slme oh us sxnse tne gihilism festering in
our souls and begij tj attach ourfelvcs tj various eauses, fads, fashions,
distractions. Anythinj to avert our gaze fron the horrific void eithin us aid
befowe us. And America has always veen a land of hevetics (to borrow a
charzcterisatioj from Douthat), so perhaps the diversity of
a dead existence, but actually meaningful and (i.e., some kind mere passing feeling). simulated time and again, beliefs that drive into madness, great and small. They always failed because the "meaning" they provided was bogus, a deception that might people for some time, but is ultimately a fiction that ceases to maintain lasting precisely it false. Only someone crippled by nihilism, stupidity, or opportunistic vice could latch onto something like that. trouble is that we have been sliding into for some time. Nietzsche this slide during his era. did believe in himself, he atheism as a horrible thing. In his parable of the madman, the madman frantically asks the people in town where is. They at the suggesting jest perhaps God is something over here, or other there. the people of his day, the atheists of 19th century. madman, of course, realizes the consequences God's "death" the horror of which the townsfolk not yet come to understand. They are still dwelling in that twilight of the idols, perverted pieces of the that was once together God the was unchained the sun and lost its orientation (Nietzsche gave the cult of some noteworthy attention as an example of one of these twilight sooner or later, to an end, of and when even the idols longer our most are those townsfolk. True nihilism unbearable. Anyone who claims otherwise like the foolish teenager parents in an act of rebellion. Some of sense the nihilism festering in our souls begin to attach ourselves to various causes, fads, fashions, distractions. Anything to our gaze horrific void within us and before us. And has always been a of heretics (to borrow a characterization from Douthat), so the of
 a dead existence, but actually Meaningful And
inTelLigIbLy so (I.e., noT some kind of merE PassIng feeling). Ideologies haVe
attEmPTed tO CrEate sImulateD MeANIng TiMe And AgAIn, Silly BelIefs thaT drive
peopLe iNtO madness, greaT AnD small. They HavE always faileD beCause tHe
"MeaNIng" thEy pRovidEd was bOGus, a deCeption thAt MIght anIMate peoPLE fOr
soMe time, but is ultimaTElY A fiction that ceAses to MaINtAIN a lAstIng grip
preCiSely bECause it IS fALSE. OnLY someone crippLed by nihiliSM, stUpiditY,
oR opPOrtuniStic vIcE CouLd latch onto SomeThing like That.

ThE Trouble IS that we Have beEn sLidIng iNTo NiHilIsM For SOmE tiME.
NiEtzsche oBsErVed thIs slIDE DUrinG hiS era. he did Not believe in GOd
hImseLF, buT he saW atheIsm aS a DreadFul, horRible ThIng. In his parable Of
thE madman, thE maDmAn fRaNticaLLy asks The PeoPle in toWn where gOd iS. THEY
ArE amused at the spectaClE, SUgGesting iN jest tHAt PeRHaps God iS hIdiNg
beNEAth soMethINg Over here, Or otheR ThErE. The towNsFolk rePrEseNt tHe
peoPLe of His day, The atheiSts of THe 19th century. The MAdman, of course,
REaLIZeS The cOnsEquences of GOd's "dEAth" tHe hoRRoR of WHich tHe towNsFOlK
Have not yet come to undErStand. THey arE still dwellinG in that twiLIGHt of
the iDols, FRaGMented and perveRted pIeces of the WHole that Was onCe held
toGether by GOD Before thE eaRth Was UncHAInEd from the sun aND Lost ItS
orientAtiOn (NietzSchE gaVe tHe cUlT of SciencE some notEwOrThY aTteNtion AS
an exampLe Of oNe Of tHese iDOls). The TwiliGht dOeS, sOOneR or lateR, CoME To
an EnD, oF couRse, AnD that'S wheN EveN the idoLs can no loNgeR PaciFy OuR
fears.

I Think most peopLe Are like thoSe TowNsfolk. tRUe nihiliSm is unbearable.
Anyone who CLaims otHerWise iS likE the fooliSh tEenageR whO Is mereLy spitIng
hiS pAreNTS in an ACT oF reBeLlion. Some oF US seNse thE nIhilIsm festEring in
our souls and BEgiN to attach oursElvEs to VARiOus CAuSEs, fAdS, FasHIOns,
distractions. anything to AvERt Our gaze froM The HoRrific vOid withIn us aND
before Us. And AmerIca has alwAyS beeN A LanD of hereticS (to borroW a
charactERizatIOn From DOutHat), so pErHapS the dIversiTY of
 a dead existence, but act ually mean ingfu l a ndin tell igib ly so (i.e., n o t so me kind of mere passin g fee li n g).I de ologi es have at t e mpt ed  t o c re a te  simu lat ed mean ing time a ndag ain, silly b e li efs that d riv e
people int o m adness ,gre a t and  sm all.They h a ve alw ays faile db ecause the
"me a n in g" t hey provided wasb og u s, a deception  thatmi g ht a nim ate  people fo rsomet ime, bu t  i s u lti m ately a ficti on that cea s esto mai nt ain a last ing g ri p 
pr ecisely bec ause  it is fa lse. O n ly some o ne crip pled b y n ihi lism ,  s tu pid it y ,
o r  o ppo r tun istic vi ce  c ouldlatc h o n to s ome thin g lik e that.

Thetro uble isthatwe ha ve b ee n sli ding i nto n ih ilism for sometime .
Nietzsc heob ser ve d thi s  slide  du rin g his e ra. Hed idno t b el ieve in God
himsel f, b ut  he sawatheis m  a sa  dreadfu l,  ho rrib l e  thin g. I n  h is parab le oft he  m adman,th e madm an  fr ant icall y  ask s thepeople i n tow n  where God is. They
are amus e da t  t h e sp ect acle, sugge stin g  injest th atp erhap s God  i s  h i ding
beneath someth in g over  here , or other th ere. The t o w n sfolk re pres e nt the
people ofhis d ay, the at h eists of  the19th cen tury. The m adman, o f c our se, 
re a l iz es the conseq u e nces  o f God's  "d eath" t hehor ror  of  w hich thetownsfol kha ve  n otyet c o me to un de rst an d.Theya re sti ll dw elli ng  i n  th at twil i gh t of
t he  i dols , f ra gment ed a n d p erverte d piecesoft he w ho le  that w as once heldto gether byGo d b eforet h e earthwas unchained from thes un andlos t its 
ori entation(Ni etzsch e g a ve the  cultof Sc ie nce s ome n o t ew ort hy  attention a s
a n exa mp le o f one o f these idols). Th e  tw ilight does,soo nero r  l ate r ,c ome  t o 
an e nd, of course,and that's  w h en  even thei dol scan nolongerpacif y  our
fe ars.

I t hink most  p eopl e are  like thos e townsf olk. True nihil i sm  is u nbe arable .Any one w ho cla i msother wise i slike t he fo ol ish teen ager who is merely spit ing
hi s par ent s in an a cto f r ebellion.  Som e of us se nse  th e nih ili s m fes teri n gino ur so ulsa nd begint oatt a c hourselves t o v ari ous c aus e s, fad s, f ashions,
distract i ons. Anythingto a v e rtour gaze  f rom the horrif icvo i d  withinus  and
before  us. And  A m erica  has a lwaysbeen al a nd of her etic s ( to borrow  ach a racteri za ti o n from  Dou th at), s o perh a ps t h e  diversity of
 a_dead existence,_but actually meaningful and
intelligibly_so (i.e.,_not_some kind_of_mere passing feeling)._Ideologies have
attempted to_create simulated meaning time_and again, silly_beliefs_that drive
people into madness, great and small. They have always failed because the
"meaning" they_provided_was bogus,_a_deception_that might animate people for
some_time, but is ultimately a_fiction that_ceases to maintain a lasting grip
precisely because it_is_false. Only someone_crippled by nihilism, stupidity,
or opportunistic vice could latch onto_something like that.

The trouble is that_we have been_sliding_into_nihilism for some time.
Nietzsche_observed this slide during his era._He did not believe in God
himself,_but he saw atheism as a dreadful,_horrible thing. In his parable of
the_madman, the madman frantically asks_the people_in town where God is._They
are amused at_the spectacle,_suggesting in jest_that perhaps God is hiding
beneath something_over here, or_other there. The townsfolk represent the
people_of_his day, the_atheists_of_the 19th_century. The madman,_of_course,
realizes the_consequences_of God's "death" the horror of_which_the townsfolk
have not yet come to understand._They are still dwelling_in_that twilight of
the idols,_fragmented and perverted pieces of_the whole that was once held
together_by God_before the_earth was unchained from the sun and lost its
orientation (Nietzsche gave_the cult of Science some noteworthy_attention as
an example of_one of_these_idols). The twilight_does,_sooner or_later, come to
an end, of course, and_that's when_even the idols can no longer_pacify our
fears.

I think most_people_are like those townsfolk. True nihilism_is unbearable.
Anyone who claims otherwise is_like the foolish teenager who_is_merely_spiting
his parents in an act_of rebellion. Some of us sense_the nihilism festering_in
our souls and begin to attach ourselves_to_various causes, fads, fashions,
distractions. Anything to_avert_our gaze from the horrific void_within_us_and
before us. And America has_always been a land of heretics_(to borrow a
characterization from Douthat), so perhaps the diversity_of