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My Religion cover

My Religion

The author sets out his personal religious convictions and the moral consequences he draws from a literal reading of the Sermon on the Mount. He recounts a spiritual awakening, rejects institutional religion and sanctioned violence, and argues that fidelity to Christ's teaching requires nonresistance, simplicity, and practical brotherly love. He criticizes clergy and state authority as incompatible with the gospel, offers concrete ethical prescriptions for daily conduct, and envisions social renewal achieved through widespread individual moral transformation rather than political or legal remedies.

By graf Leo Tolstoy
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Philosophy & EthicsReligion/SpiritualityRussian Literature

About This Book

The author sets out his personal religious convictions and the moral consequences he draws from a literal reading of the Sermon on the Mount. He recounts a spiritual awakening, rejects institutional religion and sanctioned violence, and argues that fidelity to Christ's teaching requires nonresistance, simplicity, and practical brotherly love. He criticizes clergy and state authority as incompatible with the gospel, offers concrete ethical prescriptions for daily conduct, and envisions social renewal achieved through widespread individual moral transformation rather than political or legal remedies.

About the Author

Tolstoy, graf Leo portrait

graf Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy, a prominent Russian author and philosopher, is best known for his epic novels that explore complex themes of morality, society, and human experience. His most famous works include "Anna Karenina," which delves into the intricacies of love and infidelity, and "War and Peace," a sweeping narrative set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars. Beyond fiction, Tolstoy was a significant thinker in the realms of ethics and spirituality, as evidenced in his essays such as "The Kingdom of God Is Within You," where he articulates his views on nonviolent resistance and Christian anarchism. His literary contributions have left a lasting impact on both literature and philosophy.

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