The Agora: Dedicated to Ancient Ideals
Home About/Contact Portal 5
Essays |
"Life consists in penetrating the unknown, and fashioning
our actions in accord with the new knowledge thus acquired."
--Leo Tolstoy
Tolstoy, Leo Nikolayevich: (1828-1910) Russian writer and moral philosopher; while he is best known for War and Peace and Anna Karenina, this page addresses neither.
The works on this page address Tolstoy's moral and Christian codes. Tolstoy
was a Christian in the Christ-like sense. He teaches us to penetrate
the 2000 years of dogma surrounding Christ, and focus on his words and deeds. I
find this view heartening. Tolstoy shows us a view of Christianity that
is "practical," or meant to be practiced.
"Everybody thinks of changing humanity and nobody thinks of changing himself."
--Leo Tolstoy
Tolstoy's Non-fiction:
A Confession (1882)
The Gospel in Brief (1891)
Letter to Russian Liberals (1896)
Letter to Ernest Howard Crosby (1896)
Patriotism and Government (1900)
Thou Shalt Not Kill (1900)
The Slavery of Our Times (1900)
Last Letter to Mankind (1909)
A note on why I built this page: My first real introduction
to Tolstoy was while in the penitentiary. I was reading a book every
day or two and I decided to at least broaden my horizons by reading classic
literature. Tolstoy was one among many that I read. My interests
long focused on Russian fiction, perhaps it was the atmosphere of prison
life which made Dosteovsky, Tolstoy, Turgenov, and later, Solzenitzen so
compelling.
Years later I was introduced to Tolstoy's religious/philosophical writings in a round-about way through some of his peace essays. I was taken with his practical christianity. As reading the accompanying texts will show you, Tolstoy synthesized Jesus' teachings to a few simple rules that most anyone can understand. I was impressed with his ability to boil off the added chafe and look for Jesus' message. This was my introduction to historical jesus research, with which I am presently occupied.
What Tolstoy offers is not a watered down christianity, but instead, a super-concentrated Christianity--devoid of 2 millennia of added weight. My first readings of these texts opened my eyes to unseen possibilities. Jesus as politico-social reformer was/remains a refreshing view. Tolstoy's insights transcend his time and space and have value still today. His essay The Slavery of Our Times is masterful in bringing it all down to 3 simple rules...I won't spoil it for you by here laying down his rules...check it out yourself...
To re-read the new testament after having read Tolstoy's religious writings is comparable to returning to a once-dark cave, now carrying a torch. All of that dogma that had filtered my view was lifted...Tolstoy showed me the bible not as some fairytale, but as a means of personal and ethical development. Tolstoy showed me jesus as a man laying down a new code, a code based in practical ethics. As I struggle to better grasp this responsibility, I return again and again to share in Tolstoy's struggles with some of the same issues.
And to think that a hundred plus years separates us....
john trapp
5/25/01
Most of the texts contained on this site are public domain. Site layout, all original content, created by John Trapp ©2001