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
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Page 4
... Gospels , ' with a commentary . In these works I examine all that conceals the truth from the eyes of men , and also ... Gospel ; it was a sudden removal of all that hid the true meaning of the Christian doctrine - a momentary flash of ...
... Gospels , ' with a commentary . In these works I examine all that conceals the truth from the eyes of men , and also ... Gospel ; it was a sudden removal of all that hid the true meaning of the Christian doctrine - a momentary flash of ...
Page 5
... Gospel for myself , the doctrine which teaches love , humility , meekness , self - denial , and returning good for evil , was the doctrine that touched me most . I always considered it as the basis teaching of Christi- anity , and loved ...
... Gospel for myself , the doctrine which teaches love , humility , meekness , self - denial , and returning good for evil , was the doctrine that touched me most . I always considered it as the basis teaching of Christi- anity , and loved ...
Page 7
... Gospels , and I read them over and over again . Of all the Gospels , the Sermon on the Mount was the portion which impressed me most , and I studied it WHAT I Believe . 7.
... Gospels , and I read them over and over again . Of all the Gospels , the Sermon on the Mount was the portion which impressed me most , and I studied it WHAT I Believe . 7.
Page 8
... Gospel I sought the solution of my doubts . Many and many a time I read over the sermon , and every time I felt the ... Gospels , and various commentaries upon them . Our theological explanations tell us that in the apoph- thegms of the ...
... Gospel I sought the solution of my doubts . Many and many a time I read over the sermon , and every time I felt the ... Gospels , and various commentaries upon them . Our theological explanations tell us that in the apoph- thegms of the ...
Page 10
... Gospel , that I came to understand the doctrine . On the contrary , all grew clear to me for the very reason that I ... Gospels well , I have observed the same indifference to the force of this text that I had felt . Nobody specially ...
... Gospel , that I came to understand the doctrine . On the contrary , all grew clear to me for the very reason that I ... Gospels well , I have observed the same indifference to the force of this text that I had felt . Nobody specially ...
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