What I BelieveOriginally published in 1885, What I Believe is part of series of books by novelist Leo Tolstoy that outline his personal interpretation of Christian theology. After a midlife crisis at age 50, he began to believe in the moral teachings of Christianity, while rejecting mysticism and organized religion. He believed that pacifism and poverty were the paths to enlightenment. His precepts of nonviolence even influenced Mohandas Gandhi. Students of religion, political science, and literature alike will gain new understanding from the ideas presented in this book. Students of literature will get to understand more deeply one of the greatest novelist in history, while those interested in religion and politics can see how Tolstoy's philosophy came to influence the world at large. Russian writer COUNT LEV ("LEO") NIKOLAYEVICH TOLSTOY (1828-1910) is best known for his novels War and Peace (1869) and Anna Karenina (1877). |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 71
Page 11
... Christ does not exaggerate , that He does not require suffering for the mere sake of suffering , and that He only expresses clearly and definitely what He means . He says , ' Resist not evil ; ' but if you do , you may meet with some ...
... Christ does not exaggerate , that He does not require suffering for the mere sake of suffering , and that He only expresses clearly and definitely what He means . He says , ' Resist not evil ; ' but if you do , you may meet with some ...
Page 12
... say to him , ' Go , and if on the road you are cold or hungry , be not discouraged ; go on . ' Christ does not say , ' Let a man smite thy cheek , and suffer , ' but He says , ' Resist not evil ' -whatever men may do to you , ' resist ...
... say to him , ' Go , and if on the road you are cold or hungry , be not discouraged ; go on . ' Christ does not say , ' Let a man smite thy cheek , and suffer , ' but He says , ' Resist not evil ' -whatever men may do to you , ' resist ...
Page 13
... Christ says to His disciples : ' Be poor , be ready to bear persecution , suffering , and even death , without resist- ing evil . ' He prepared for suffering and death Him- self without resisting evil ; reproved Peter , who grieved over ...
... Christ says to His disciples : ' Be poor , be ready to bear persecution , suffering , and even death , without resist- ing evil . ' He prepared for suffering and death Him- self without resisting evil ; reproved Peter , who grieved over ...
Page 15
Leo Tolstoy. the grace of God is transmitted to all believers ; morcover , God the Son has left us this doctrine ... Christ does not consider it as such ; on the contrary , He says definitely that we are to fulfil His commandments ...
Leo Tolstoy. the grace of God is transmitted to all believers ; morcover , God the Son has left us this doctrine ... Christ does not consider it as such ; on the contrary , He says definitely that we are to fulfil His commandments ...
Page 18
... says , ' resist not evil , ' he did not say that is also in the Talmud ; but ... Christ , which is not only left unobserved , but of which the fulfilment is considered impossible , is superfluous ... Christ as God , and 18 WHAT I BELIEVE .
... says , ' resist not evil , ' he did not say that is also in the Talmud ; but ... Christ , which is not only left unobserved , but of which the fulfilment is considered impossible , is superfluous ... Christ as God , and 18 WHAT I BELIEVE .
Other editions - View all
What I Believe: Translated from the Russian by Constantine Popoff Leo Tolstoy No preview available - 1999 |
Common terms and phrases
acknowledge amongst anger answer believe brethren Christ says Christ's doctrine Christ's words Christian Church clear clearly commandments of Christ commit adultery condemn consider contrary courts of law creed dead death deeds deprive destroy disciples Divine doctrine of Christ earth enjoined Epistle of James eternal law existence explain faith Father fellow-creatures follow forbids fulfil give given Gospel according happiness hath Hebrew language Hebrews human idea individual interpretation John John Chrysostom judge kill kingdom kingdom of God labour law of Christ light likewise love thy neighbour Luke mankind Matt Matthew meaning Mosaic law Moses neighbour never oath obey peace perish Pharisees precept prophets punishment rational resist evil resist not evil Sadducees salvation saved say unto sense suffering swear Talmud taught teaching of Christ thee things Thou shalt tion tooth true truth understand understood verse violence whosoever wife written law