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The Kingdom of God Is Within You
The Kingdom of God Is Within You | Leo Tolstoy
6 posts | 5 read | 1 reading | 8 to read
The soul-searching book that inspired Gandhi to embrace the concept of passive resistance, Tolstoy's 1894 polemic clearly outlines a radical, well-reasoned revision of traditional Christian thinking.
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ssravp
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Pickpick

An incredibly dense book. I think I probably should have listened to it. Because as much as I took from it, I feel that there was so much more that I missed.

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GingerAntics

Trying to decide if I should keep reading this book because it‘s just a classic that is relevant to my field, or if I should bail because the evidence used isn‘t considered academic and some sources are misrepresented. Maybe a different translation would be better. I don‘t know. #finishorbail #tolstoy #thekingdmofgodiswithinyou
Voting is now open. lol

Texreader It looks good. I‘d say keep reading. 7y
GingerAntics @texreader that‘s the thing. It does look great, but digging in, it‘s just not. He claims one thing, but that same source also constructs him. According to this book, no real Christian can even vote. If you vote, you‘re a fake Christian because it‘s an act of violence. It‘s madness, that some claim ultimately led to communism taking over Russia. 7y
GingerAntics @Texreader he also seems to have non-violence/pacifism and non-resistance to evil totally confused. How can Jesus support non-resistance to evil? That was the entire purpose of his life, if you‘re a Christian. It just doesn‘t add up. I dread reading each days instalment. 7y
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Texreader @GingerAntics Oh my that sounds difficult. Does it matter that it was written in 1894 and you can look at it from that perspective? 7y
GingerAntics @Texreader I tried that, and it usually makes things work. This time, though, it just makes me think that those facts weren‘t different back then. Those ideas have been separate, and obviously so, for 2,000 years. The historical context of this leading into the Bolshevik Revolution really just reminds me of how important it is to be accurate and clear in expressing your ideas. Like I said, it could be just a bad translation. I don‘t know. 7y
GingerAntics @Texreader I could stop reading it on serial reader, and later when I can get another translation from the library or something, I could try that. That may be my best bet. 7y
Texreader @GingerAntics I agree. I am interested in whether you find a better translation. I hope so. I have found some translations of fiction make a book unreadable. 7y
GingerAntics @Texreader that is definitely true. This is actually nonfiction, so I think having a proper translation is really important to getting the ideas across properly. I‘m really hoping it‘s just the translation. 7y
Texreader @GingerAntics I completely agree. Especially on this topic and given the age of the text. 7y
GingerAntics @Texreader exactly. Their are such subtle differences between different things, that end up totally changing the argument, so if the translation is slightly off, it‘s like a tiny angle, but if you go a thousand miles the two points are still miles apart. 7y
3 likes10 comments
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GingerAntics

I feel like Tolstoy is confusing non-violence and non-resistance to evil. Christ certainly never condoned non-resistance to evil. He did that all the time. In fact, his entire existence, according to the Christian Bible, was one giant, 33 year long resistance to evil and his death was a day of torture in resistance to evil. Non-violence or non-resistance to violence was right up his ally.

Unsure if this is due to the translation from Russian.

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Suet624
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Feeling chatty today. Must be this #litsypartyofone event. Tolstoy would approve of our little state that says no to hate. Tolstoy argued that anyone who considered themselves a Christian should not participate in a war or work for an organization or government that supported war. He argued that Christ had said to always turn the other cheek. However, Tolstoy could find very few Christians who actually lived or believed in the principle. #Vermont

saresmoore That street and the banner are gorgeous! Also, I absolutely must read this book. 8y
Suet624 @saresmoore I found it as a PDF online, but I actually prefer reading it on Serial Reader. Short sections make this book easier to absorb. 8y
tpixie Funny/Sad- and most wars/conflicts are based on religion- Irish Catholics & Protestents, Jews & Muslims, Muslims & Christians. Even Hindus have been in religious wars. Mankind interprets religious teachings in non religious ways. 8y
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Suet624 @tpixie You're right. Tolstoy focuses primarily on Christianity because in the late 1800's the primary emphasis was on the Russian Orthodox Church. He mentions other religions too but his focus was on Russia. 8y
tpixie @Suet624 I bet it's really interesting to get his perspective. 8y
Hobbinol I love that banner! You Vermonters are too cool! 8y
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Suet624
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From 1890 to today. It never ends. This book covers so much territory. Tolstoy's passion on the subjects he addresses is intense. I had no idea what I was getting into when I started this on Serial Reader.

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Suet624
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Flipping between The Kingdom of God is Within You by Tolstoy (Serial Reader), Then Again by Diane Keaton (audio), and The Fireman by Joe Hill (Kindle) is a bit of a stretch for me. Not only is the subject matter stretchy, but until I joined Litsy I only read physical books. Now you all have me dipping my toe into an awful lot of formats.

tracyrowanreads I'm only a very recent convert to audiobooks myself. I spent years trying to be comfortable with them,to no avail, and then suddenly it clicked with me. 8y
minkyb Bookish podcasts are my new addiction baby steps for me. 🙃 8y
Suet624 @tracyrowanreads Still not sold on it. But this one is only my 4th or 5th so I'll keep trying. 😁 8y
Suet624 @minkyb Oh boy. Don't suggest anything new to me!!! 😂😂 8y
tracyrowanreads I found that I had to find the right circumstances. Now I listen while I have meals or when I do housework. For the latter I keep my phone in my pocket and use headphones. It keeps me moving. 😉 8y
52 likes5 comments