"metaphysics"....what a dirty word!

I was just reading some of Nietzsche's Human, All Too Human, and this passage struck me as profoundly insightful:

Perhaps the scientific demonstration of the existence of any kind of metaphysical world is already so difficult that mankind will never again be free of a mistrust of it. And if one has a mistrust of metaphysics the results are by and large the same as if it had been directly refuted and one no longer had the right to believe in it.

What are the implications of this analysis? Nietzsche hones in on something that is absolutely brilliant: Metaphysics has imploded. In its insistence on exactitude, empirical examination, verifiability, and a general sense of honesty with itself, science--the very tool borne out of the metaphysical schema--has paradoxically shown metaphysics itself to be untenable! For how could anyone prove through scientific demonstration anything that metaphysicians have claimed (from God to infinity to ethics to consciousness)?

Indeed, this is very much akin to Christianity's implosion (for what is Christianity if not the most widespread metaphysical doctrine?). Christianity's insistence on repentance of sin (bringing the dark secrets out into the open), on honesty with the Lord above, has taught us this virtue of honesty in our everyday lives. And what result? Christianity cannot honestly be believed in our modern age! We seek proof, and yet only attain faithful speculation. That is simply not enough for our oh-so cynical, yet oh-so honest age! In short, Christianity's virtue is also the framework for its own demise.