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Chapter 1 - Introduction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 September 2022

Pål Kolstø
Affiliation:
University of Oslo
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Summary

The Introduction presents the main scope and ideas of the book and discusses some theoretical approaches to the study of continuity and rupture in intellectual history, such as semiotics and sociology of knowledge, which can help to explain Tolstoi’s relationship to the Russian Church and to the religious environment in which he grew up. Although the impressions Tolstoi received from various non-Russian sources were indeed important, no thinker can be significantly influenced by all national cultures and all time periods. In important respects, the culture in which one has grown up retains cognitive primacy also for those who rebel against it. Any church influences its opponents both positively and negatively – by the elements they take over from it (usually without acknowledging this), and since such rebellion is provoked by precisely the features that are characteristic of that particular. Tolstoi was deeply imbued with Orthodox ways of thinking, and incorporated important elements of Orthodox spirituality into his own religious system. The elements he selected from Orthodox spirituality underwent a radical change of meaning when applied to his message. Thus, in determining the relationship of Tolstoi to the Orthodox Church we must emphasize both continuity and break at the same time.

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Chapter
Information
Heretical Orthodoxy
Lev Tolstoi and the Russian Orthodox Church
, pp. 1 - 16
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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  • Introduction
  • Pål Kolstø, University of Oslo
  • Book: Heretical Orthodoxy
  • Online publication: 15 September 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009260374.002
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  • Introduction
  • Pål Kolstø, University of Oslo
  • Book: Heretical Orthodoxy
  • Online publication: 15 September 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009260374.002
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Introduction
  • Pål Kolstø, University of Oslo
  • Book: Heretical Orthodoxy
  • Online publication: 15 September 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009260374.002
Available formats
×