What I Believe
Quick Summary
What I Believe is a philosophical and religious work by Leo Tolstoy, written in 1884. Following a profound existential crisis after completing Anna Karenina, Tolstoy turned to religion, but ultimately rejected the doctrines of the Russian Orthodox Church and other Christian institutions, believing they had corrupted true Christianity.1
Tolstoy's new faith, which he considered true Christianity, focused on the teachings of Jesus, particularly the Sermon on the Mount. He rejected sacraments, miracles, the Trinity, and the immortality of the soul.1
Key tenets of Tolstoy's belief system included:
* Do not be angry.
* Do not lust.
* Do not take oaths.
* Do not resist evil, particularly through violence, making him a pacifist and a type of anarchist.
* Love your enemies.1
He believed that governments relied on violence to enforce laws and therefore rejected participation in them, such as military service or voting. Tolstoy's work emphasizes living by these principles, though he acknowledged the difficulty in fully adhering to them.1
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