What I Believe

In "What I Believe," Leo Tolstoy continues the profound spiritual journey chronicled in "A Confession," delivering a radical and deeply personal interpretation of Christian faith. Having renounced his former nihilism, Tolstoy launches a scathing critique against institutionalized Christianity, accusing the church of obscuring the authentic teachings of Jesus. He asserts that the true essence of Christ's message, particularly as articulated in the Sermon on the Mount, lies in the principle of non-resistance to evil. Tolstoy argues that the church, through its dogma, rituals, and complicity with worldly powers, has betrayed this fundamental tenet, leading humanity astray from a path of genuine love and peace. This powerful treatise serves as both a spiritual autobiography and a philosophical manifesto, challenging readers to embrace a simple, ethical, and unadulterated form of Christianity based on direct adherence to Christ's moral imperatives rather than ecclesiastical authority.