Il «monaco impossibile». Nietzsche pro e contra Lutero

The paper focuses on Nietzsche’s confrontation with Luther relying on an essay written by the Lutheran theologian Emanuel Hirsch. Nietzsche’s evaluation of Luther is not unambiguous, because the sharp tirades against Luther in his maturity follow the appreciation of the Reformation in his youth. Nietzsche’s critique deals however less with the doctrinal elements of Luther’s thinking and more with the political and cultural consequences of his position. The paper aims to show that beyond the apparently negative opinion, Nietzsche holds a constant dialogue with Luther, as proved by Nietzsche’s thinking about the theme of the Death of God.