The Kingdom of God Is Within You

The kingdom of heaven within you or " The kingdom of God is within you " (Russian Царство Божие внутри вас [ Tsarstvo Bozhiye vnutri vas ] ) is an influential non-fiction book by Leo Tolstoy. It was first published in 1894 in Germany, after being banned in Russia. It stands on the summit of Tolstoy's thirty years of Christian thought and lays out a new organization of society based on a literal Christian interpretation.

Argument

The book's title refers to Luke 17:21 NIV. Tolstoy discusses the principle of non-violence in the face of violence, as taught by Jesus. ( See also Church of Peace ). Tolstoy saw a separation between the Russian Orthodox Church, which was united with the state, and what he considered the true message of Jesus as it is presented in the Gospels, particularly the Sermon on the Mount.

Tolstoy argues that all the belligerent governments are an affront to Christian principles. He refers to the claim: " But I say unto you, Resist not evil: but if one strike thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also represents; " Mt 5,38 ELB. He rejects the interpretations of Roman and medieval scholar, who wanted to limit the scope of the claim.

Tolstoy's correspondence with Mohandas Gandhi

Gandhi wrote in his autobiography that this book it " overpowered " and a " lasting impression " left behind. Gandhi was one of Tolstoy's book of John Ruskin's Unto This Last and the poet Shrimad Rajchandra ( Raychandbhai ) the three most important influences in his life.

1908 Tolstoy wrote a letter to an Indian newspaper (A Letter to a Hindu ), in which he expressed the opinion that the Indian people could bring the British colonial rule only by passive resistance on the basis of charity -case basis. The following year, Gandhi wrote to Tolstoy to ask for advice and for the approval, A Letter to a Hindu to publish in their own language Gujarati. Tolstoy responded and it was followed by a prolonged correspondence until his death in 1910. 's Letters contain, among other things, practical and theological applications of non-violence. Tolstoy's idea was finally realized by Gandhi's organization of nationwide non-violent strikes and protests during the years 1918-1947.

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