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 5
... idea that love , humility , meekness , self- denial , were the essential principles of Christianity . I saw that this , which I regarded as the basis of Christianity , did not form the main point in the public teaching of the Church ...
... idea that love , humility , meekness , self- denial , were the essential principles of Christianity . I saw that this , which I regarded as the basis of Christianity , did not form the main point in the public teaching of the Church ...
Page 13
... the words ' resist not evil ' do really mean that we are never to resist evil , my former ideas concerning the teaching of Christ underwent a complete change ; I wondered , 1 not so much at my eyes being opened to the WHAT I BELIEVE . 13.
... the words ' resist not evil ' do really mean that we are never to resist evil , my former ideas concerning the teaching of Christ underwent a complete change ; I wondered , 1 not so much at my eyes being opened to the WHAT I BELIEVE . 13.
Page 15
... idea had first come into my mind , that the doctrine of Christ was divine in authority , but impossible in prac- tice . On reviewing my past life , I discovered that this idea had never been transmitted to me in all its nakedness , for ...
... idea had first come into my mind , that the doctrine of Christ was divine in authority , but impossible in prac- tice . On reviewing my past life , I discovered that this idea had never been transmitted to me in all its nakedness , for ...
Page 23
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Page 29
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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