Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-12-27
Ito be continued.)
TOhSTOI AND RELIGION.
A Very Beautiful View of Christian Duty and
Obligation.

Very Beautiful View of Christian Duty and
Obligation.
'sIt it well said in every sense" writes
Carlyle, "that a mans religion is I'll
chief fact with regard to him" He goes
on to state that this religious faith, which
is such an important thug, is what a
man practically accepts and believes in
regard to his duty and destiny. From
Luther to Matthew Arnold we see many
interesting figures in the religious world,
and it is fact, to which perhaps not
enough importance is attached that we
are very ready to take up with new SIX
positions of the Christian faith, or even
beliefs that are not Christian, and give
them very serious consideration. This
may be due to the restless spirit OF the
age, ever demanding something new, or
IL may be attributable to a constant de-
sire to get the best Or at least the most
satisfactory. Many good Christians
have so arrans ed their religions that it is
a very accommodating code of morals
indeed, and of their ex perirneuts there is
no end He was fully inspired poet who
recently wrote:
Q. 1cd, so many paths lead us unto Thee,
Twas strange if any souls should miss the
way.
But while a GOOD many puzzled people
are cropping for the way, new figure ap-
pears in the religious world With strange
exegesis of the Christian faith. The
author of "E Gee Homo" has said much
about "Christian enthusiasm" which IN
der his hands, assumes important pro-
portions. 1t relig ion were nothing more
than an "rnthusiasm" the story Of
Chrlst's life would be suff ,ient TO arouse
and iced that enthusiasm. So when
Tolstol, with very attractive personality,
comes forward advocating a trict follow
ing OF Christ's life as the true religion, it
Is not difficult to see that his views have
grown in mind that has been unusually
Influenced by Chcist's teachings and con-
duct upon earth. The prime point of
Tolstoi's belief is that force must not be
used to overcome evil. "Bat | say unto
you that ye resist not evil: but whosoever
shall smite thee On the right cheek, turn
to him the other also" 1t will be seen
very readily that the Russian is good
deal of an optimist and something of 8
fatalist. The mere idea Of redressing
violence is, he says, not Christian, but
chivalrous. Ii is not natural that ne
should add to his non-resistence theory
thC Sbot bndb fO ohdi NV.
The world has no right to judge even the
worst of men, ne says. Therefore, any
punishment of nan By man is obnoxious
IN his eyes; all punishm ents are in their
| nature persecution. As there can be no
punishment without judgment, there
must be no judgment.
This is the substance of the Tolstoi
! faith. OF course strict folio wing of il
would make some radical changes in the
state as we'll as the church. indeed, the
count takes the bull by the horns and de-
clares that there should be NO govern
NETT. He thinks his people would be
better eff if St. Peters burg, Moscow and
ali that Is called government were sud
denly swallowed up by an earthquake.
From what is generally believed of The
! Russ an government this might be very
true without carrying a great deal of
| force. He would dis perse armies, and as
part eff bis system would tolerate no
taxation. my views," he says, 'are
simply the application of the words of
Christ TO the Thugs OF this life"
No one will oeny that this view of
Christian duty is very beautiful one. 1t
could come from none but great, gentle
heart. It invites study and is pleasing
to contemplate. But 1t Is apparent that
the apostle of this new faith is a senti-
mentalist of thu extreme sort. He does