Miles T

I have very little knowledge of Nietzsche, and it's very possible that I'm speaking codswallop, but you seem to be actually overlooking another part of what he intended with that (one which I didn't mention in that section you quoted): humanity is not only capable of supplanting religion now, but is shifting towards doing so. Humanity is actually progressing beyond religion, not just able to do so. A subtle distinction, perhaps. As Nietzsche was someone who (if I recall correctly) saw the plague religion was, I think it's fair to extrapolate that 'Gott ist tot' was also Nietzsche referring to the aforementioned progression. Although, it's also very possible that you did already know this, but just neglected to mention it.

I suppose that this post might seem critical and provocative, but please know that it was not intended as such.