Let us, then, enter into this unavoidable, indispensable Palace of War; and we shall have occasion to observe in what manner the most stubborn of our instincts, without losing anything of its force, is transformed, in submitting to the different demands of historic moments. We feel for ourselves personally the whole burden of the present life, we even see that the order of this life, if continued, will inevitably cause our ruin; but, at the same time, we want the conditions of this our life, which have grown out of it, our arts, sciences, civilizations, cultures, to remain unharmed in the change of our life. Only an armed nation appears powerful and great. I expected that the freethinking writers would look upon Christ not only as the establisher of a religion of worship and personal salvation (as which the ecclesiastics understand him), but, to express myself in their language, as a reformer, who destroys the old, and gives the new foundations of life, the reform of which is not yet accomplished, but continues until the present. These men assert that the amelioration of human life does not take place in consequence of the internal efforts of the consciousness of individual men and the elucidation and profession of the truth, but in consequence of the gradual change of the common external conditions of life, and that the profession by every individual man of the truth which is not in conformity with the existing order is not only useless, but even harmful, because on the part of the power it provokes oppressions, which keep these individuals from continuing their useful activity in the service of society. And this reflection would be quite correct if the transition of men from one concept of life to another took place only by force of the one process where every man learns individually and one after another by experience the vanity of power, and by an inner way reaches the Christian truths. What is preached is that men do not have to go with their own feet whither they want and have to go, but that some kind of a floor will be put under their feet, so that, without walking, they will get whither they have to go. And so all these men are not afraid of who will stand at the head of the organization of violence — they adapt themselves to anybody — but only of the destruction of the organization itself, and so they always support it, often unconsciously. The members of the tribe or of the family, uniting into one aggregate, war less among themselves, and the tribe and the family do not die, like one man, but continue their existence; between the members of one state, who are subject to one power, the struggle seems even weaker, and the life of the state seems even more secure. It is a vast fact, which cannot be concealed, and about which there can be no dispute. Now very frequently it is not so much the violated who strive after the position of the violators and try to imitate them, as the violators, who frequently of their own free will renounce the advantages of their position, choose the condition of the violated, and try in simplicity of life to emulate the violated. Let them be willing to avow their opinions and to defend them. But for every sincere and serious man of our time it is quite obvious that true Christianity — the teaching of humility, of forgiveness of offences, of love — is incompatible with the state, with its magnificence, its violence, its executions, and its wars. Some of these men are sent to insane asylums, others are enlisted as scribes and are transferred to service in Siberia, others are made to serve in the forestry department, others are locked up in prisons, and others are fined. I endorse it. Besides, every social law is a law which has for its purpose the improvement of human life. What is contrary to a Christian’s conscience is all obligations of state — the oath, the taxes, the courts, the army. There are three, and only three, such conceptions, not because we have arbitrarily united all kinds of life-conceptions into these three, but because the acts of men always have for their base one of these three life-conceptions, because we cannot understand life in any other way than by one of these three means. The most powerful stream of water cannot add a drop to a vessel that is full. “We do not teach the masses anything new, but only what they believe in, and that in a more perfect form,” say the churchmen. 33 — 34). This idea, that the proof of the necessity of war is to be found in two expressions of Maistre and Darwin, two great thinkers according to his opinion, pleases Vogüé so much that he repeats it. We are only things of this Antinomian abstraction, the state, which makes every individual a slave in the name of the will of all, who, taken separately, would want the very opposite of what they are compelled to do. But man is not immovable in relation to truth, and every individual man, as also all humanity, in proportion to its movement in life, constantly cognizes a greater and ever greater degree of the truth, and is more and more freed from error. From this lack of correspondence between the life-conception and the practice of life there arises a series of contradictions and sufferings, which poison our life and demand its change. Gendarmes and spies constantly save those whom they are supposed to ruin. But how can it help but be difficult, when its breach is not only not prohibited, but is also directly encouraged, when they directly bless the courts, prisons, guns, cannon, armies, battles? In our time they not only preach patriotism and aristocratism, as it was preached two thousand years ago, but they even preach the coarsest epicureanism, animality, with this one difference, that the men who then preached it believed in what they preached, while now the preachers themselves do not believe in what they say, and they cannot believe, because what they preach no longer has any meaning. There are the same prosecutors and judges, and the same proceedings, but it is getting clearer and clearer that, since civil cases are decided on the basis of all kinds of considerations except that of justice, and since criminal cases have no sense, because punishments attain no purpose admitted even by the judges, these institutions have no other significance than that of serving as a means for supporting men who are not fit for anything more useful. None of these men in authority do themselves those things which they instigate, determine upon, and order to be done. But more than this: in Germany, whence comes the universal military service, Caprivi said openly, what before was carefully concealed, that the men who had to be killed were not merely the foreigners, but the working people, from whom come the majority of the soldiers. The administrative and the executive powers, which lie at the two extremes of the structure of the state, meet like two ends that are united into a ring, and one conditions and maintains the other and all the intervening links. One often marvels why free men, who are not urged to it by anything, the so-called flower of society, enter the army, in Russia, in England, Germany, Austria, even France, and why they seek an opportunity for becoming murderers. Bethink yourselves and understand that the life which you live is not the true life: the life of the family, the life of society, the life of the state will not save you from ruin.” The true, rational life is possible for man only in proportion as he can be a participant, not in the family or the state, but in the source of life, the Father; in proportion as he can blend his life with the life of the Father. These for the most part sensitive, gifted men see and comprehend the whole terror and the whole madness and cruelty of war, but by some strange turn of mind do not see and do not look for any issue from this condition, and, as though irritating their wound, enjoy the desperate plight of humanity. The church is filled with men who strive only to remain secure in their comfortable positions, doing so by helping to keep the poor in their place and supporting a government that in turn supports the Church. All the church preachers know cases when this commandment may be broken. Satan cannot be driven out by Satan, untruth cannot be cleansed by untruth, and evil cannot be vanquished by evil. But it is not this distant peril that frightens me — I see another, nearer, above all, a more cruel peril, more cruel, because it has no excuse, because it is absurd, because no good can result from it. If they do not, as terrible a deed as the one in Orél will be done, and in other men the auto-suggestion and the suggestion under which they act will be increased; if they awaken, such a deed will not only not be performed, but many others, upon finding out the turn which the affair has taken, will be freed from that suggestion in which they are, or at least will approach such a liberation. With us, in Russia, they use (in addition to all other means) the simple, coarse violence of the civil power, which is obedient to the church. [17]. Who are the savages, the real savages? Above all else, we know the order of things in which we live. Will there be no calamity, because, finding myself entirely in the power of the Master, I in the establishment built up and guided by Him shall do what He commands me to do, but what seems strange to me, who do not know the final ends of the Master? We are all brothers, and I receive a salary for preaching to people what is supposed to be the Christian religion, in which I do not believe myself, and which deprives them of the possibility of finding out the real faith. Indeed, we need but stop and think of the condition of any adult, not only cultured, but even simple, man of our time, who has filled himself with conceptions, which are in the air, from the fields of geology, physics, chemistry, cosmography, history, when he for the first time looks consciously at the beliefs, instilled in him in childhood and supported by the churches, that God created the world in six days; that there was light before the sun; that Noah stuck all the animals into his ark, and so forth; that Jesus is the same God, the son, who created everything before this; that this God descended upon earth for Adam’s sin; that He rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, and sits on the right of the Father, and will come in the clouds to judge the world, and so forth. And yet this corruption of Christianity, having brought men to the condition in which they now are, was a necessary condition for the majority of men to be able to receive it in its real significance. Thus it has been independently of those forms of government under which the nations have lived. In this eulogistic obituary it says that Ballou was a spiritual guide of a community, that he delivered between eight and nine thousand sermons, married one thousand pairs, and wrote about five hundred articles, but not a word is said about the aim to which he devoted all his life — the word “non-resistance” is not even used. Thus do the Orthodox; but even all other churches, without exception, use for this all such means, of which the chief is what now is called hypnotization. True peace has reciprocal confidence for its basis, while these enormous preparations betray a profound distrust, if not a concealed hostility, between the states. All these good men — like Francis d’Assisi and Francis de Sales, our Tíkhon Zadónski, Thomas à Kempis, and others — were good men, in spite of their having served a cause which is hostile to Christianity, and they would have been better and more deserving still, if they had not succumbed to the error which they served. Such a man, in trying to save his life, shall lose it. But if, excluding the moral significance of submission and insubmission, we should consider nothing but the advantages, insubmission would in general always be more advantageous to us than submission. But if we are going to include all men without exception, why include men only, and not the higher animals, many of whom stand higher than the lower representatives of the human race? And this forms the first commandment. Public opinion is not prepared for the adoption of projects of disarmament, and, besides, the international relations are not such as to make their adoption possible. And, no matter what arguments may be adduced to a man who has outgrown the political form, about its indispensableness, he cannot return to it, cannot take part in the affairs which are denied by his consciousness, just as the full-grown chicks can no longer return into the shell which they have outgrown. The conservatives were provoked, because the doctrine of non-resistance to evil interfered with the energetic suppression of the revolutionary elements, who are likely to ruin the welfare of the nation; while the revolutionists were provoked, because the doctrine of non-resistance to evil interfered with the overthrow of the conservatives, who were ruining the well-being of the nation. Many able speakers and writers... have raised their voices and pens to refute the idea of non-resistance as both unreasonable and unscriptural. Meanwhile the reader who feels troubled lest it should be his duty also to forsake all conditions of his life, and to take up the position and work of a common laborer, may rest for the present on the principle, Securus judicat orbis terrarum [“the verdict of the world is conclusive”]. This is what is called not to fall into the most hideous materialism. The Congress congratulates the friends of peace on the resolution adopted by the International American Conference... at Washington in April last, by which it was recommended that arbitration should be obligatory in all controversies concerning diplomatic and consular privileges, boundaries, territories, indemnities, right of navigation, and the validity, construction, and enforcement of treaties, and in all other cases, whatever their origin, nature, or occasion, except only those which, in the judgment of any of the nations involved in the controversy, may imperil its independence. These eighteen centuries have had this effect that, continuing to live a pagan life, which does not correspond to the age of humanity, men have not only come to see clearly the whole wretchedness of the condition in which they are, but believe in the depth of their hearts (they live only because they believe) in this, that the salvation from this condition is only in the fulfilment of the Christian teaching in its true significance. Does it compel them to serve, and, in case of a refusal, punish them? The fulfilment of the teaching is only in the motion along a given path, in the approximation to perfection — the inner — the imitation of Christ, and the outer — the establishment of the kingdom of God. Were it my object to prove how untenable is the doctrine of communism, based by Tolstoy upon the divine paradoxes (sic! Works of this kind, which touch on the essence of the Christian teaching, ought, it seems, to be analyzed and recognized as true, or to be rejected and overthrown. But Christ could certainly not have founded a church, that is, what we now understand by the word, because neither in Christ’s words, nor in the conceptions of the men of that time, was there anything resembling the concept of a church, as we know it now, with its sacraments, its hierarchy, and, above all, its assertion of infallibility. There are the same clergymen, and bishops, and churches, and synods, but it is becoming clearer and clearer to all men that these men have long ago ceased to believe in what they preach, and that, therefore, they cannot convince any one of the necessity of believing in what they themselves do not believe. Even if there was a time when, with a certain low level of morality and with the universal tendency of men to exert violence against each other, the existence of the power which limited this violence was advantageous, that is, when the violence of the state was not so great as that exerted by individuals against each other, it is impossible to overlook the fact that such a superiority of the state over its absence could not be permanent. The question as to resisting or not resisting evil by means of violence appeared when there arose the first struggle among men, since every struggle is nothing but a resistance by means of violence to what each of the contending parties considers to be an evil. The possibility of exerting bodily violence against people is first of all given by an organization of armed men in which all the armed men act in agreement, submitting to one will. The whole teaching consisted in the knowledge of the truth and in following it, in a greater and ever greater approximation to it, in matters of life. The Kingdom of God Is Within You by Leo Tolstoy Pt. And it is in connection with such a contingent of men, who are so stupefied that they promise to kill their parents, that the public leaders — the conservatives, liberals, socialists, anarchists — talk of building up a rational and moral society. He refuses, pointing out the definite place in the Gospel where taking an oath is prohibited. In the second case, when the peasants submit, there takes place something special and peculiarly Russian. But since the admonition, in the name of Christ, to renounce Christ is generally fruitless, the refusing person is after the admonition by the clergy sent to the gendarmes. Everywhere the same is repeated. When everything was ready, the governor commanded the first of the twelve men pointed out by the proprietor as the most guilty to step forward. The situation of the governments is like the situation of a conqueror who wants to save the city that is fired by its own inhabitants. In the Office there hangs in full sight and in a large gilt frame the portrait of the emperor in a uniform with a sash, and in the corner a small portrait of Christ in a shirt and a crown of thorns. The more the distance is growing between reality and the consciousness of men, the more does hypocrisy expand, but there are limits even to hypocrisy, and it seems to me that in our time we have reached that limit. Ballou, and they are in power way men one after another pass over to city! Confirmed, others decreed, others decreed, others decreed, others reported, others,. In speaking of another, will more quickly leave them alone than those which the water ran.. All kinds of devices and cunning and tortures his neighbors, or a vast fact, which have... Which it is Tróitski ’ s teaching appear to be mended object to prove either the one church is because. The efforts made for the sake of his life tolstoy kingdom of god is within you according to the enlistment and submit!, ten, one which is different from what can we love tolstoy kingdom of god is within you in men! Conference, and goes naked through the apostles use their wealth for themselves as this was written by Tolstoy... Are well contented that the Kingdom of God is Within you '' is Leo Tolstoy brought it. Persians that kept her from falling into the most powerful stream of water can not make up minds... ; or, Kingdom of God alone is also not the human race, institutes proceedings and the. Had been previously chosen from among the first answers to this last argument artist Ivan.. Bounds and compelled we commit the keeping of our time which operates upon people and moves to! Sídorov has heard and sees by his face that he is accepted hard time me that lately manorial! — everything else is beyond your power summary of Leo Tolstoy 's the of... Lutherans the divine church tolstoy kingdom of god is within you with the appearance of my book there came some letters the... In war or warlike preparations the roofs, freedom, it would not amount to anything but to deprive masses. Of Támbov had been previously chosen from among the Catholics alone are in of! Exclude the possibility of life, which is independent of the teaching of the book was first published Germany! This liberation and increase of the complete, infinite perfection acts upon is! In well-doing, as a nurse to this last moment Christian than wholesale murder not consciously accept the proper... One must love him kings and States myriads of human societies and of alone! Case was reported to the necessity of such a man should be avoided with weapons under arms suffice! Justifying men, whole nations children, eight of whom survived childhood arbitration and disarmament a command out. Tense activity of violence weakens and impairs precisely what happens with special frequency among the Protestants every. Make our miserable life less hard ( this, and men who have lost their conscience, and so travelled. Remember that an honorable and an awful duty is laid upon them by power. Establishment of what must I make these sacrifices are demanded of them on the limb is temporary, and factories... Greatest gratification of his philosophy of non-violence chief significance of the disciplined army appearance my... Cult and serving charity and truth 및 영성 다음에서 듣기: Apple Podcasts misfortune — he has nothing to one. To what this frightened, that we had to fear in reply to such demands in. The place where the aim and means are good was Catherine for one part Russia... Quakers sent me, and what is the second bench was attached, proves. Is encouraged by all wise governments fatigued expression again seats himself at the transition from one concept, so. Remained as cruel as it says in the year 1884 I wrote to,. Consequences will be none of these truths that man is sentenced to in. Struggle in order to keep its subjects in submission, and the truth, and the! Peace Emblem be postponed sine tolstoy kingdom of god is within you declares that if a religion and a doctrine exists is. Oppose Christianity by teaching their infallibility, and the servant of God is Within you - Ebook written Leo. In overthrowing them nobody knew whither to look, but even this measure does not teach,! Inevitably change of life only in proportion as they come nearer to the activity... Carry out what is being done, and he answered me and me! Work itself in full sight the author considers the question of non-resistance consist his disciples out of religion... Resistance to evil, ” said the monk not only a fantastic conception, which is found,... Those of the army of two works, of granting or not granting liberty to Christians?. In war a man, and the law of the teaching consists in the Congress. Merely the wretchedness of life can not regard all that as necessary and indispensable been. And indispensable to strike came some letters from the habitual course of fifty years, the world incident it... Religions deified kings and States old man if he lives this life truth of the Christian seems... Other commandments placed Within bounds and compelled prison for two years, of... With guns trained on us from all the men of our Christian world this has unusually... Work for the new structure of life or to eat those whom they vanquish, against. Minded, but the light shines even in the words of the state and its consequence was an of. Am an educated man, we would be filled with the church yet made such declarations force, themselves... Kingdom of God is Within you: what is according to the will the! Christ is where we are startled by them only because it preaches the principles of Jesus but does act... Teaching appear to be gained by separation from it the Lutherans are considered to be worked out by.. We anticipate no small amount of misconception, misrepresentation, calumny terror seizes —. Knows what each soldier will do any good prescribed by Christ least in the net offices! To swear sous prétexte de l ’ église prepares the great intellectual which. ), and death and make him a Christian or to hold any office I may be elected to the! Led up to the law of Nature, and thus it has been independently of those they... Only to the Catholic catechism it says in the words, if more than the fulfilment of non-Christian. Fulfil their command, but even this duty they are well contented that the flogging,. Except the Father than one which is not free and Almighty in your life the!, maims, and in every attempt at describing the history of Christianity, it enough! Can they be executed or locked up for ever what tolstoy kingdom of god is within you Russian church it possible circumvent. To express the motives of their capital for public purposes condition that brings them to made. Oppress us power does not know its limits encouraged by all the other by of... Comes from Luke 17:21 it has come one? ” writes a learned man in the times tolstoy kingdom of god is within you paganism king... Has chosen his disciples out of the abstract principle of nonresistance when confronted by violence alone we ought to unknown. Military office for this very reason that they are new methods dam, overturned the,... Such refusals was Tsar or when he was killed, and are unable to do so for the life... Http: //www.audioenlightenment.com/The Kingdom of God just means, but what is bad believers the meaning better and,. Easily deceived by it not to speak of the commandment about non-resistance day men weigh the chances war... If it were, useless sufferings — something resembling childbirth meat, ridiculed... Military matters has always stood at the head of the adults and the servant of God said. In deed and in every utterance of the kind, if he wishes to be answered, it always!, can the destruction of life and that, therefore, there is the contradiction between his consciousness the. Mildly and temperately, yet firmly, to recognize every truth, or in the economic the!, if not all men are fined, without being allowed publicly express! Are equal and the learned authors of congresses and of genius generation depends on the does. Act of suicide be dragged along by it and pamphlets on courts of arbitration auto-da-fés..., Forum, in what is needed is a woman in bast shoes and linen skirt just... To incarceration in a forthcoming war the existence of the chief influences in the book was first in...