Your comment and that talk reminded me of a philsophy lecture I had about Nietzsche and the reason behind the "Übermensch".

Nietzsche feared that the progression of atheism would lead to broadly accepted Nihilism. Which would have the implication of anarchy and moralless behaviour. So he imagined the "Übermensch", a person who choses his own meaning and own morals, free from any moral commitment society has placed upon him.