The undergraduate thesis analyzes Feuerbach's understanding of religion as an anthropological phenomenon arising from human self-consciousness. In the introduction, I will briefly describe the life of Ludwig Feuerbach and the influences that contributed to the creation of the main focus of the thesis – The Essence of Christianity. In the central part, I will first present Feuerbach's critique of God, whom he understands as a projection of human qualities and the contradictions in the traditional understanding of God. I will then analyze reason as an essential attribute of God, therefore also of a human, and connect it to the importance of sensibility, such as love, which dictates moral actions in humans. Feuerbach's thesis will be linked to the philosophies of Protagoras and Spinoza. I will describe how Feuerbach approaches the anthropological interpretation of Christian teachings and dogmas, which he considers contradictory but believes can be meaningfully explained in connection with human desires and hopes. This will be followed by an examination of Tone Stres's critique of Feuerbach's anthropological reduction. In the final part, I will explore Feuerbach's influence on Marx, Nietzsche, and Freud, as well as on contemporary philosophy of religion and morality. The thesis will conclude with a summary of the main ideas presented in The Essence of Christianity, along with key concepts essential for understanding Feuerbach's philosophy, particularly his critique of religion.
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