Religion from Tolstoy to Camus (Classic Reprint)


Book Description

Excerpt from Religion From Tolstoy to Camus Copyright 1961 by Walter Kaufmann. Printed in the United States of America. All rights in this book are reserved. Library of Congress catalog card number: 61-12838. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.




Religion from Tolstoy to Camus


Book Description

Walter Kaufmann devoted his life to exploring the religious implications of literary and philosophical texts. Deeply skeptical about the human and moral benets of modern secularism, he also criticized the quest for certainty pursued through dogma. Kaufmann saw a risk of loss of authenticity in what he described as unjustied retreats into the past. This is a compilation of signicant texts on religious thought that he selected and introduced.




Religion from Tolstoy to Camus


Book Description

First published in 1961, this volume brings together basic writings and religious truths and morals from a wide range of sources. Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Plus II, Leo XIII, Nietzsche, James, Royce, Wilde, Freud, Niemöller, Barth, Maritain, Tillich, Schweitzer, Buber, Camus, and others, all have sought the religious truth about man, and have in the last three quarters of our century made great contributions to religious thought, critical often of the accepted and fashionable religion of their day, but greatly concerned to purify religion as they understood it. Dr. Waller Kaufman, of Princeton University, who has already written extensively on philosophy and religion, supplies an editorial and critical note for each of his subject, thus providing valuable continuity and evaluation. Such a book as this deserves a place in all libraries, public and private, so that it will be possible to quote these men from knowledge, rather than hearsay many times removed from the original. “The point is not to win friends for religion, or enemies, but to provoke greater thoughtfulness. Here are texts that deserve to be pondered and discussed. Some of them I have criticized in other volumes; in such cases, the references are given. But in the present book nothing is included merely to be disparaged, nor is anything offered only to be praised. The hope is that those who read this book will gain a deeper understanding of religion.”—Walter Kaufmann, Preface




My Religion


Book Description

To one not familiar with the Russian language the accessible data relative to the external life of Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoi, the author of this book, are, to say the least, not voluminous. His name does not appear in that heterogeneous record of celebrities known as The Men of the Time, nor is it to be found in M. Vapereau's comprehensive Dictionnaire des Contemporains. And yet Count Leo Tolstoi is acknowledged by competent critics to be a man of extraordinary genius, who, certainly in one instance, has produced a masterpiece of literature which will continue to rank with the great artistic productions of this age. Perhaps it is enough for us to know that he was born on his father's estate in the Russian province of Tula, in the year 1828; that he received a good home education and studied the oriental languages at the University of Kasan; that he was for a time in the army, which he entered at the age of twenty-three as an officer of artillery, serving later on the staff of Prince Gortschakof; and that subsequently he alternated between St. Petersburg and Moscow, leading the existence of super-refined barbarism and excessive luxury, characteristic of the Russian aristocracy. He saw life in country and city, in camp and court.




The Faith of a Heretic


Book Description

Originally published in 1959, The Faith of a Heretic is the most personal statement of the beliefs of Nietzsche biographer and translator Walter Kaufmann. A first-rate philosopher in his own right, Kaufmann here provides the fullest account of his views on religion. Although he considered himself a heretic, he was not immune to the wellsprings and impulses from which religion originates, declaring it among the most vital and radical expressions of the human mind. Beginning with an autobiographical prologue that traces his evolution from religious believer to "heretic," the book touches on theology, organized religion, morality, suffering, and death—all examined from the perspective of a "quest for honesty." Kaufmann also subjects philosophy's faith in truth, reason, and absolute morality to the same heretical treatment. The resulting exploration of the faiths of a nonbeliever in a secular age is as fresh and challenging as when it was first published. In a new foreword, Stanley Corngold vividly describes the intellectual and biographical milieu of Kaufmann’s provocative book.




Tolstoy and the Religious Culture of His Time


Book Description

The first book-length study on the subject in any language, Tolstoy and the Religious Culture of His Time treats Tolstoy's experience as a massive philosophical and religious project rather than a crisis-laden tragedy. Inessa Medzhibovskaya explains the evolution of Tolstoy's religious outlook based on his ongoing dialogue with the tradition of conversion in Europe and Russia, as well as on the demands of his own heart, mind, and spirit. The author contextualizes Tolstoy's conversion, comparing his pattern of religious conversion with that of other notable religious converts-Saint Paul, Saint Augustine, Luther, Pascal, Rousseau-as well with that of Tolstoy's countrymen-Pushkin, Gogol, Chaadaev, Stankevich, Belinsky, Herzen, and Dostoevsky. Stressing the importance of the religious culture of his time for Tolstoy, this study investigates the nineteenth century debates that inspired and repelled Tolstoy as he weighed arguments for or against faith in his dialogues with the culture of his time, covering widely differing fields and disciplines of experimental knowledge. The author considers German Romantic philosophy, the natural sciences, pragmatist religious solutions, theories of social progress and evolution, and the historical school of Christianity. Medzhibovskaya stresses the fact that influential intellectual currents were as important to Tolstoy as believers and nonbelievers were from and beyond his immediate environment. The author argues that, in this sense, Tolstoy's conversion emerges as deeply intertextual, and this surprising discovery should not diminish our trust in Tolstoy's sincerity during his religious evolution, which occurred both spontaneously as well as deliberately. The polyphony of discreet spiritual moments that Tolstoy created by fusing in his narratives of conversion religious and artistic realms is arguably his greatest contribution to spiritual autobiography.




Two Shining Souls


Book Description

In Two Shining Souls, Cracraft explores the decades-long encounter of Jane Addams (1860-1935), the famous American social reformer and peace activist, with Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910), the acclaimed Russian writer and sage. This hitherto untold story highlights the crisis in global pacifism precipitated by World War I. Never before had the quest for international peace seemed more promising; never since, in the wake of World War II, the Cold War, and the "War on Terror", has it seemed more impossible. Yet perhaps the story of these two shining souls has never needed to be told more.










The Pursuit of Belief - Christian Classics Collection


Book Description

The Pursuit of Belief - Christian Classics Collection encapsulates an extraordinary confluence of theological inquiry, philosophical meditation, and literary artistry. This anthology traverses a vast temporal landscape, from the patristic period to the threshold of the contemporary, gathering a multitude of voices that have shaped Christian thought and the broader cultural legacy of humanity. It juxtaposes the divine comedy of Dante Alighieri with the existential musings of Friedrich Nietzsche, the transcendental reflections of Ralph Waldo Emerson with the spiritual allegories of John Bunyan, and the mystic insights of St. Teresa of Ávila with the practical Christianity of Charles M. Sheldon, showcasing an unparalleled range of literary styles and theological perspectives. The collection stands as a testimony to the enduring dialogue between faith and reason, individual belief and societal norms. The contributing authors and editors, drawn from varied epochs and geographies, reflect a rich tapestry of historical, cultural, and intellectual contexts. Figures like Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Leo Tolstoy stand alongside St. Augustine and Martin Luther, exemplifying the anthologys alignment with significant historical and literary movements. This diversity not only illuminates the multifaceted nature of Christian thought but also demonstrates how these varied voices contribute to a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the anthologys central themes. Such an assemblage encourages readers to discern the intricate relationships between faith, culture, and personal conviction across different periods and places. The Pursuit of Belief - Christian Classics Collection is an indispensable volume for those interested in the intersection of faith, literature, and philosophy. It offers readers the unique opportunity to engage with a wide array of perspectives and themes, encouraging a comprehensive exploration of Christian belief as both a personal journey and a collective experience. This anthology is not merely a scholarly endeavor but a voyage through time and thought, inviting readers to ponder profound questions and explore the myriad ways in which the pursuit of belief shapes our understanding of the world and ourselves. As such, it is highly recommended for students, scholars, and anyone with a keen interest in the historical and philosophical dimensions of faith.