The Light Shines in Darkness

shed, Tolstoy compares with historical events that changed the course of the development of humanity. It reflects deep personal dilemma of the author, describing it by the example of a family: It is unbearable to live in prosperity, to parasitize, as Tolstoy says; unbearable is the timeserving position of the Church, when God’s word is distorted to please the powers that be. Unbearable is the obligation of military service, he says, everything is sinful, and we all live wrong. The hero of the book eventually comes to a conclusion: Christianity, when understood verbatim et literatim, is impracticable, since the strict compliance with The Commandments is impossible in this world.