Dear Ilya, I am no expert on Tolstoy! Gasp! Was he anti-Semitic? And what in particular did you want to know about "Father Sergius"? Sorry--can't help you here....
Hi Sister, Leo Tolstoy was one of the greatest writers who ever lived, and one of the most original christian thinkers. No, he wasn't an anti-Semite - probably you meant Dostoyevsky, it is another story. He expressed his ideas about man's relations with God in many of his novels - War and Peace, Anna Karenina, Death of Ivan Ilyich etc.
Father Sergius is about aristocrat turned anchorite and who returned back to the world to serve people:..."I lived for men on the pretext of living for God, while she lived for God imagining that she lives for men. Yes, one good deed—a cup of water given without thought of reward—is worth more than any benefit I imagined I was bestowing on people".
Do you think that this is a right way to serve God living in state of permanent conjugal bliss with Christ? Are you sure that this is what He wanted us to do?
Ilya, I don't know that I understand your question. But Jesus Himself was celibate. AND heaven is the great heavenly wedding feast when we will all be united ("married") to God in a way we can't imagine on earth. (But earthly marriage gives us an inkling.) On earth, some are called to marriage, some to virginity/celibacy "for the sake of the kingdom." Even on earth, God is still the Spouse of every soul, not just virgins/celibates. :) Does that help?
Sister, we can argue for centuries - was Jesus celibate or wasn't...After all He loved children, why'd He want all life on Earth to stop? And most of all Jesus warned us about trying to receive rewards too soon, and with the monastic hedonism you are preaching,i afraid, this is exactly what you are doing. I don't believe there will be a wedding feast, rather an university...We are in this world to learn certain things the hard way, and education will continue after our death; sometimes it is very tough, but joyful nevertheless - and I think it is offensive to use Creator as poor man's drug or as imaginary sex partner...You can watch (and maybe critique) new movie "Anna Karenina", where Tolstoy expressed some of his Christian beliefs. Best Regards.
Ha ha. An older gentleman came at me with a CAKED makeup brush! I looked in the mirror and saw that I looked like Malibu Barbie, but I thought: "hey, they know what it looks like on TV. I must be verrrry pale." No one else had that much makeup on. ha ha ha
Thanks so much with this fantastic new web site. I’m very fired up to show it to anyone. It makes me so satisfied your vast understanding and wisdom have a new channel for trying into the world. Berita ArsenalLiga Inggris
Great program! I truly enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteSister, what is your opinion about Leo Tolstoy's teachings and, in particular, about his novel "Father Sergius"?
ReplyDeleteDear Ilya,
ReplyDeleteI am no expert on Tolstoy! Gasp! Was he anti-Semitic? And what in particular did you want to know about "Father Sergius"?
Sorry--can't help you here....
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Sister,
ReplyDeleteLeo Tolstoy was one of the greatest writers who ever lived, and one of the most original christian thinkers. No, he wasn't an anti-Semite - probably you meant Dostoyevsky, it is another story. He expressed his ideas about man's relations with God in many of his novels - War and Peace, Anna Karenina, Death of Ivan Ilyich etc.
Father Sergius is about aristocrat turned anchorite and who returned back to the world to serve people:..."I lived for men on the pretext of living for God, while she lived for God imagining that she lives for men. Yes, one good deed—a cup of water given without thought of reward—is worth more than any benefit I imagined I was bestowing on people".
Do you think that this is a right way to serve God living in state of permanent conjugal bliss with Christ? Are you sure that this is what He wanted us to do?
Ilya, I don't know that I understand your question. But Jesus Himself was celibate. AND heaven is the great heavenly wedding feast when we will all be united ("married") to God in a way we can't imagine on earth. (But earthly marriage gives us an inkling.) On earth, some are called to marriage, some to virginity/celibacy "for the sake of the kingdom."
DeleteEven on earth, God is still the Spouse of every soul, not just virgins/celibates. :) Does that help?
Sister, we can argue for centuries - was Jesus celibate or wasn't...After all He loved children, why'd He want all life on Earth to stop? And most of all Jesus warned us about trying to receive rewards too soon, and with the monastic hedonism you are preaching,i afraid, this is exactly what you are doing. I don't believe there will be a wedding feast, rather an university...We are in this world to learn certain things the hard way, and education will continue after our death; sometimes it is very tough, but joyful nevertheless - and I think it is offensive to use Creator as poor man's drug or as imaginary sex partner...You can watch (and maybe critique) new movie "Anna Karenina", where Tolstoy expressed some of his Christian beliefs.
DeleteBest Regards.
Beautiful, Sr. Helena! Loved it.
ReplyDeleteSister, do you always wear that much makeup?
ReplyDeleteHa ha. An older gentleman came at me with a CAKED makeup brush! I looked in the mirror and saw that I looked like Malibu Barbie, but I thought: "hey, they know what it looks like on TV. I must be verrrry pale." No one else had that much makeup on. ha ha ha
DeleteThanks so much with this fantastic new web site. I’m very fired up to show it to anyone. It makes me so satisfied your vast understanding and wisdom have a new channel for trying into the world. Berita Arsenal Liga Inggris
ReplyDelete