Grade 10 Religion

• 1

  A crazed individual arrives in a busy marketplace carrying a lantern in broad daylight
• Characteristics of a Covenant

  • A covenant is like a treaty or alliance
  • A covenant has conditions
  • A covenant is sealed with a ceremony
  • A covenant is celebrated with both parties present
  • A covenant has a covenant renewal act
• Law or Torah


  • The rules of the mosaic covenant
  • The first five books of the Old Testament (also called the Pentateuch)
• Nietzsche's Madman
• Covenant


  An agreement between two people or parties in which they make certain promises and become members of each other's families
• 9

  In the absence of divine meaning, Nietzsche suggests embracing the idea of eternal recurrence and creating one's own values
• Prophets


  • In the Bible, prophets are people called by God to remind his people of the obligations under the covenant
  • They may predict the future but this is rare and usually restricted to reminders of what might happen if the covenant is broken
• 2

  The madman loudly declares, "God is dead! We have killed him!" signaling the end of traditional religious beliefs
• 10

  "The Madman" serves as a metaphor for confronting the existential consequences of God's death and finding meaning in a world without traditional religious beliefs
• 5

  He foresees an era of meaninglessness, where old values crumble and individuals face a meaningless existence
• 4

  The madman explains that God's death means the loss of absolute truths and moral foundations
• 6

  Despite the gravity of his words, the crowd remains indifferent, unable to comprehend the ramifications
• Revelation


  The communication of God to his people
• Chosen People

  • Throughout time, God has made covenants with an ever expanding group of people
  • The Jewish people were chosen by God to bring knowledge of Him to the world
• 8

  The story reflects Nietzsche's criticism of traditional morality and religion
• Tetragrammaton


  The name of God often given as YHWH in the Old Testament, linked to the Hebrew verb "to be" and probably means "I Am"
• 7

  The realization deeply affects the madman, leaving him in despair and confusion
• 3

  The people are stunned by the madman's proclamation but fail to grasp its significance