The Gospel in Dostoevsky

[Mogwai]

An awesome book to pick up is 'The Gospel in Dostoevsky'.  It highlights Dostoevsky's commentaries on Christianity and contains excerpts (chapters) from his works such as The Grand Inquisitor, Rebellion, etc.

Great stuff...anyone else pick this one up?

[Golyadkin]

Where can I get it?

[earth]

Damn I saw that in a used bookstore in London, Ontario last weekend for 4 bucks but I didn't pick it up!  I figured I've already got enough Dostoevsky on my plate.  I'll look around for it still.

[Mogwai]

You can order it from a link on this very site that takes you to Amazon:
http://www.fyodordostoevsky.com/ebookstore4.php (2nd row on the right)

If you purchase it through the link on this site, thanks in advance for supporting my efforts here as I get reimbursed a little bit monetarily.  I've got a ways to go before breaking even for the costs of the website (database, hosting, time put in, etc.).  

So, if you ever are going to order a Dostoevsky book online, please check the E-Bookstore here for availability.  Thanks, guys...

[Golyadkin]

As soon as I have money and the ability to order things online (note that I am only 16), I will order it. Thanks for making it so easy!

[Mogwai]

Does anyone else own The Gospel in Dostoeyevsky?  Thoughts?  I think the selections are magnificent.  One of my friends is the Missions Director at a Christian University and I think he brings it with him on mission trips...

[Zosima]

We have that book here in the monastery, as you might expect but I can't find it right now.  I perused it once and liked the ability to find the uses of the Gospel in the works of a man who loved it so much.  Whereas there is a brief introduction before each passage, explaining the position of the text in the plot of whatever work--which is nice--am I correct in remembering that there is not really any analysis of the significance of that particular Gospel text in that particular work of D?  (Perhaps I remember amiss...that would hardly surprise me.)  That, I think, would have made the work even better.

[Lev]

Hey Zosima, are you serious about the monastery?

[Zosima]

Hey Zosima, are you serious about the monastery?

Of course...

I once went to school where Ivan does, back when he was a freshman in high school, I think, and someone asked me where I came from (because of the unusual outfit), so I said, "Heaven."

[Lev]

...ha ha. That is so strange that you went to Ivan's school. High concentration of Dostoyevsky readers perhaps!
I've never seen a monastery before actually... What kind is it and what is it like? I'm guessing that you are like Orthodox or something, right? I have a thousand questions for you, roughly speaking !

[Zosima]

Lev,

I decided to answer your question in a new topic in the off-topic section, so as not to digress from the discussion of the Gospel in Dostoevsky .

What I will say is that this accounts for my interest in the use of the Gospel in D's works.  Without imposing on the text, so much Gospel is evident in D's writing; and in C+P not only are there texts which are only implied and to understand which you would have to have access to Russian Orthodox liturgy, but there are also numerous theological statements regarding sin, repentance, grace, mercy, etc., going far beyond the simple conscience question in the face of murder.  Which is why I disagree with Ivan that C+P is a satire, at least, in its essence.

But, God willing, that will be the subject of the paper I hope to write this summer .

And I went to UCI to study classics .  Russian wasn't even big enough to have a place of its own.  I never took a literature class there, so I honestly couldn't tell you if anyone else read Dostoevsky.

[underworld men]

No disrespect underworld men.. But Dostoevsky was a Russian Orthodox Christian. IF he had seen that a group of anabaptist had used his writing to attack his Christianity
he would have vicously attacked them as @#$%s! this book is really evil!

Dostoevsky considered Constantine a saint and in NO WAY did any of Dostoevsky's writings stipulate that Constantine corrupted christianity. PERIOD.

If the compilers of this book really respected what Dostoevsky had to say they would not take his writings and use them against his ultimate idea -Russian Orthodoxy
They have no right to take his work and use it to go to go against Dostoevsky.

[underworld men]

Gentlemen D stated in the Brothers Karamosov that Protestent Christianity was the wormwood or fallen star in the book of revelations.

Dostoevsky did not agree with Roman Catholism and or Protestentism.

This book completely plays on people ignorants and COMPLETELY misrepresents D!

[Pavo]

Well,  I suppose they do have a right to put anything on the table.  Don't you agree?  And don't you have the same right?  Anybody can put an idea out there, but will the idea stand up to scrutiny?  In a world where there is little freedom, especially academic freedom, to be found, I advocate freedom of speech, often touted, but not so often experienced.

You have a good point, that the writers should not ascribe a belief system to Dostoevsky that can be demonstrated he could never have been a part of.  I agree with you, if you are saying that we should not try to read into an author what we want to hear, only what the author intended.  But it is difficult to do, I am not sure I can do that effectively with Dostoevsky.  What does Dostoevsky intend to say?  He is polyphonic, he writes with many voices and he disguises his intent.  Maybe that is one of the reasons why we are all so fascinated with him, the genius that he was.

By the way, the Russian word for "wormwood" is chernobyl, a footnote now, of marginal consequence, but some might remember the conflagration in Ukraine.

[underworld men]

Slander is free speech?  You have no point. Come on.. You posted just to post, right...Just to argue.  You like the book or you are protestant, right? Are you Russian? Are you in Russian? If so what part?

"And a star that fell from the sky and took 1/3 of the churches with it"...This is no reference to a nucleur power plant in Russia. This is in Brothers Karamozov the word wormwood is in revelations. I am speaking of the Brothers Karamozov.

No, knowingly misrepresenting a persons work and opinion and religion is not a form of freedom of expression or free speech -no more then lying is. Lying is not protected under the guise of "free speech". But then for you to think that Dostoevsky was out to write novels that expressed nothing and had no clear message, well.. I can see why you would post what you posted. Disagree then I made my point, you are entitled to disagree.

Ask yourself after reading diary of a writer by Dostoevsky, though..
Would Dostoevsky agreed with what was said? Would he say to everyone "Read into what I wrote whatever you like and uh um use my work to defame my Saints and my church?"  Now remember for this point to be made is as you put it "my point is against free speech". Also if you agree why confuse my point with what you posted and yes I got what you said.

Why would you think that taking the "know" or mystic parts of Dostoevsky''s novels and then before each one put a protestant opinion that goes against the "know" or mystic parts of Dostoevsky's novels be considered 'free speech"? To hell with their ideas and opinions let them write their "own" books. Not use the achievement and art of someone else.

They have not right to take Dostoevsky and then use him against his own church, his own christianity. Ya your entitled to your opinion but don't depict me as "closed minded or intolerant" when I post my opinion -that THEY ARE WRONG.
What if no one had ever read Dostoevsky and this was the only thing that they ever came across?

Believe what you want- but Dostoevsky did not believe that Constantine corrupted the church and Dostoevsky did not believe that Byzantium or the Ecumentical/Catholic councils corrupted christianity. Dostoevsky did not write the Grand Inquisitor under the guise that Constantine was the Grand Inquisitor. You surely don't believe that, do you?
Cause that is my point and the problem I have with "the gospel in Dostoevsky".