drich Nietzsche applied his penetrating insight and razor sharp perception, none preoccupied him over the course of his entire life so much as the Christian religion. For Nietzsche, this was not only a deeply personal matter-he was descended from generations of Lutheran pastors and was very devout in his youth-but also a matter of profound importance for all of Europe and Western civilization, insofar as it has been shaped by Christianity for over a thousand years.

Collected here for the first time are all of Nietzsche's writings on Christianity from his major works, from The Birth of Tragedy to The Antichrist-the latter of which is presented in its entirety in the superb translation by H.L. Mencken. The reader can follow the trajectory of Nietzsche's thought as he gradually uncovers the nature and the extent of the changes to the body and soul of European man brought about by Christianization.

Highly controversial ever since he was first published, Nietzsche is sure to continue to provoke debate, disagreement, outrage, and also reflection and revaluation, long into the future.