Sympatiaa paholaiselle? Abduktiivisia huomioita Machiavellin kristinuskon kritiikistä

Authors

• Paul-Erik Korvela

Abstract

One of the most eminent critics of the Christian religion was undoubtedly Niccoló Machiavelli. In this article, Machiavelli’s critique of Christianity is examined together with his views on patriotism and religion in general. Specific attention will be paid to Machiavelli’s literary works and the recurring themes in them, in particular that of Hell. Machiavelli claims that in order to act for the good of the temporal fatherland, one has to be ready to put one’s salvation on the line and go to Hell. This is because patriotic action requires the employment of means that are distinctively un-Christian. Correspondingly, Christian morality is distinctively un-patriotic in Machiavelli’s view. This in turn is the reason why Machiavelli objects to Christianity.