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). |
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... Peace , ' and of ' Anna Karenine . ' His memory will be cherished and his works will be read by later generations , long after the author is no more , But none will remember him with such devoted affection as will the privileged few who ...
... Peace , ' and of ' Anna Karenine . ' His memory will be cherished and his works will be read by later generations , long after the author is no more , But none will remember him with such devoted affection as will the privileged few who ...
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... peace and happiness which now fill my soul . Like the thief , I knew that my life was full of wickedness ; I saw that the greater part of those around me were morally no better than I was . Like the thief , too , I knew that I was ...
... peace and happiness which now fill my soul . Like the thief , I knew that my life was full of wickedness ; I saw that the greater part of those around me were morally no better than I was . Like the thief , too , I knew that I was ...
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... peace with all men , ' and ' loving our enemies , ' - and yet there remained in me the same feeling of dissatisfaction . The words of God were not as yet clear to me . They seemed to enjoin an impossible self- abnegation , which ...
... peace with all men , ' and ' loving our enemies , ' - and yet there remained in me the same feeling of dissatisfaction . The words of God were not as yet clear to me . They seemed to enjoin an impossible self- abnegation , which ...
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... peace and safety of myself and family , and of my property , were based on the law that was rejected by Christ - on the law of a ' tooth for a tooth . ' Ecclesiastical teachers told me that the doctrine of Christ was divine , but that ...
... peace and safety of myself and family , and of my property , were based on the law that was rejected by Christ - on the law of a ' tooth for a tooth . ' Ecclesiastical teachers told me that the doctrine of Christ was divine , but that ...
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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