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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
reflective
"I shall not seek the explanation of everything. I know that the explanation of everything, like the commencement of everything, must be concealed in infinity."
Tolstoy's exploration on faith as the search for a connection between finite and infinite, man and the world, reminded me of Camus and the absurd. The inherent desire to relate to the space one inhabits is satisfied by religion which aims to rationalize with the help of the irrational. Religion may acknowledge science but in the way that science is incapable of attributing meaning to life: it aims to solve life, something the soul cannot be satisfied with. Therefore religion employs God, an impossible force which is unjust and incomprehensible, which allows people to shape their own belief.
The absurd man is not necessarily religious but the religious man appears to be absurd; he seeks to attribute a meaning to life and therefore personifies his meaning as God. God, who is infinite and cannot be solved as He is not rational, aids men through life by letting them believe that He will welcome them after death. However, God, too, ends after death since He exists within the mind. As Tolstoy argues that there can be faith without God but no God without faith, it is the individual who creates meaning for themselves since it resides within them, ever present.
A Confession is a short, insightful read which is worth it even if you're an atheist- in fact, I am never more assured of my non-belief than when I read about people writing about religion. Tolstoy's prose is beautifully eloquent and he possesses a great insight into how people (struggle to) apply faith to their search for meaning. Three hallelujahs or whatever they say.
Tolstoy's exploration on faith as the search for a connection between finite and infinite, man and the world, reminded me of Camus and the absurd. The inherent desire to relate to the space one inhabits is satisfied by religion which aims to rationalize with the help of the irrational. Religion may acknowledge science but in the way that science is incapable of attributing meaning to life: it aims to solve life, something the soul cannot be satisfied with. Therefore religion employs God, an impossible force which is unjust and incomprehensible, which allows people to shape their own belief.
The absurd man is not necessarily religious but the religious man appears to be absurd; he seeks to attribute a meaning to life and therefore personifies his meaning as God. God, who is infinite and cannot be solved as He is not rational, aids men through life by letting them believe that He will welcome them after death. However, God, too, ends after death since He exists within the mind. As Tolstoy argues that there can be faith without God but no God without faith, it is the individual who creates meaning for themselves since it resides within them, ever present.
A Confession is a short, insightful read which is worth it even if you're an atheist- in fact, I am never more assured of my non-belief than when I read about people writing about religion. Tolstoy's prose is beautifully eloquent and he possesses a great insight into how people (struggle to) apply faith to their search for meaning. Three hallelujahs or whatever they say.
Original Rating: 4 stars
Updated Rating: 5 stars. ⭐
I recently converted to Buddhism, after spending most of my life as an atheist — years of stubbornly believing there was nothing beyond what I could see or prove.
When I first finished A Confession, I thought Tolstoy was simply trying to cope with his existential crisis and had turned to Christianity because it was the only place he could find meaning. Honestly, I found it a bit silly at first — that someone with his level of intellect would resort to religion.
But the more I sat with it, the more I realized he was right all along.
I’ve been lost too, and I’ve experienced nearly everything he describes — only I’m still young (turning 22). I believed I was too “smart” to ever put my faith in a religion or higher power. But I was dead wrong.
I still don’t believe in a God, much like Tolstoy didn’t blindly accept everything Christianity taught. But I’ve come to understand that there is meaning to be found.
For me, that meaning came through Buddhism. For Marcus Aurelius, it was found in this world — in nature, in the Logos.
You don’t have to believe in anything specific. It’s okay to be an atheist. I’m not here to preach a religion — truthfully, I don’t even know what I’m preaching. I’m still lost, still figuring things out.
But one thing I’ve learned is: I am not the center of the universe. None of us are.
I don’t have the answers, and no religion holds them all either. But sometimes, believing in something — whatever that may be — helps you carry on.
Updated Rating: 5 stars. ⭐
I recently converted to Buddhism, after spending most of my life as an atheist — years of stubbornly believing there was nothing beyond what I could see or prove.
When I first finished A Confession, I thought Tolstoy was simply trying to cope with his existential crisis and had turned to Christianity because it was the only place he could find meaning. Honestly, I found it a bit silly at first — that someone with his level of intellect would resort to religion.
But the more I sat with it, the more I realized he was right all along.
I’ve been lost too, and I’ve experienced nearly everything he describes — only I’m still young (turning 22). I believed I was too “smart” to ever put my faith in a religion or higher power. But I was dead wrong.
I still don’t believe in a God, much like Tolstoy didn’t blindly accept everything Christianity taught. But I’ve come to understand that there is meaning to be found.
For me, that meaning came through Buddhism. For Marcus Aurelius, it was found in this world — in nature, in the Logos.
You don’t have to believe in anything specific. It’s okay to be an atheist. I’m not here to preach a religion — truthfully, I don’t even know what I’m preaching. I’m still lost, still figuring things out.
But one thing I’ve learned is: I am not the center of the universe. None of us are.
I don’t have the answers, and no religion holds them all either. But sometimes, believing in something — whatever that may be — helps you carry on.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Religious but makes you face biases you wouldn’t think of as a non-believer towards those who do
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Tolstoy grapples with the point of life and takes us on his search for truth and meaning.
A heartfelt and touching essay written by a literary giant on the meaning of life. Tolstoy lays everything out for everyone to see, his thoughts on his mental struggles through every category and stage of life. The book ends on a very uplifting, and validating note. Even though he has found faults with the way people interact with religion and God, he continues to search, and does not forsake his faith. I’m now 2/2 on Tolstoy books making me cry.