"A Confession and Other Religious Writings" by Leo Tolstoy - Book Review
Summary
"Tolstoy's passionate and iconoclastic writings--on issues of faith, immortality, freedom, violence, and morality--reflect his intellectual search for truth and a religion firmly grounded in reality. The selection includes 'A Confession, ' 'Religion and Morality, ' 'What Is Religion, and of What Does Its Essence Consist?, ' and 'The Law of Love and the Law of Violence.'
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Review
Considered one of the greatest literary masters, Tolstoy reneged many of his masterpieces when he approached death, including War and Peace and Anna Karenina. He also turned to Christianism and religiosity as a source of meaning at the same time. This book explores the spiritual process of a renowned author throughout his life, eager to address a deep existential angst. He denounces the structure of the Russian Orthodox society of the 19th century as a hypocrisy deviating from Christ's teachings, demonstrated by widespread acts of coercion and violence by the state. Adamant against any dogmas, Tolstoy saw meaning in living according to the core teachings of Christ, values that were distorted throughout the centuries in the name of a bureaucratic Church and a corrupt society. Although some analyses are shallow, the book is a thought-provoking collection of ruminations and existentialist philosophy. It might make you question your connection to God when devoid of mundane appearances and rituals.
Key Takeaways
- Profound exploration of existential questions
- Emphasis on simplicity and authentic faith
- Rejection of traditional religious dogma
Who Should Read This
Readers grappling with existential questions connected to religiosity and faith, and people interested in a more intimate portrait of one of the great masters of Russian literature.
Favourite Quotes
"I knew that I could find nothing along the path of rational knowledge, other than negation of life. While in faith I found nothing other than a negation of reason, which was even more impossible than denial of life."
"And so, in reply to your two questions, I say: religion is a particular relationship that man establishes between his own separate personality and the infinite universe, or its origin. And morality is the permanent guide to life that follows from this relationship."
Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 stars)