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The Kingdom of God Is within You |  | Author: Leo Tolstoy
Creators: Constance Garnett, Martin Green
Publisher: Bison Books
Category: Book
List Price: $18.95
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as of 11/28/2009 07:34 CST details
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Seller: lucrecia20
Rating:  42 reviews
Sales Rank: 512954
Media: Paperback
Pages: 368
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.9
ISBN: 0803294042
Dewey Decimal Number: 201
EAN: 9780803294042
ASIN: 0803294042
Publication Date: November 1, 1984
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
First published in Germany in 1894, after being banned in Russia, The Kingdom of God Is within You reveals Tolstoy’s world outlook after his conversion to Christianity. He argues that the kingdom of God is within reach of all. The core of the book deals with his nonresistance to evil, a principle Tolstoy passionately advocated. Gandhi was won over by the book. Tolstoy clearly describes the hazards that bullying governments and false beliefs produced. “The situation of the Christian part of humanity—with its prisons, forced labor, gallows, saloons, brothels, constantly increasing armaments, and millions of confused people ready like trained hounds to attack anyone against whom their masters set them—this situation would be terrible if it were the product of coercion, but it is above all the product of public opinion.” Abhorring the violence of revolution, Tolstoy calls on Christians to remember that the only guide for their actions is to be found in the divine principle dwelling within them, which in no sense can be checked or governed by anyone or anything else. |
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 42
 The Kingdom of God is Within You - Tolstoy September 7, 2009
Holy Roller for the Rock
Very well written and informative, but very repetitive in some spots. I can see how this book would inspire someone like Ghandi to devote his life to fighting social injustice. It is also a good reminder that Jesus means what he says. Many people try to reinterpret or circumvent the Sermon on the Mount, saying things such as "It's holding up an impossible standard." All I can say to that is, "Duh." God has asked his people to do things that are impossible without Him.
Intellectual Christianity May 12, 2009
Deborah Galli Boivin (Northampton, MA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is the textbook for 'Christian Anarchy' but I prefer the Jacques Ellul books. Tolstoy focuses on Christ as a teacher and anti-war figure, much as Martin Luther King was for our day. He rejects all mystical value: the resurrection, miracles, the virgin birth, etc. It is basically a treatise on pacifism as taught by Christ. In the example he gives of an average day in the life of an orthodox Russian Christian, filled with absurd rituals to fend off fear, one can see why he rejected the mysticism. If you are seeking a book on pacifism it's great. If you seek a deeper relationship with God that explores the concept of grace and redemption through Christ you will not find it here.
 Either the writings of a madman or a very bad translation May 8, 2009
ggt (usa)
2 out of 9 found this review helpful
The edition I read is almost unintelligible. Broken sentences & paragraphs composed of phrases. The mental gymnastics needed to comprehend the twisted logic was exhausting. For this reason, I suspect there are parts of the writing not possible to translate effectively from Russian. I've explored spirituality for many years and did not find the ideas novel, as Tolstoy's contemporaries did.
Throughout the book, Tolstoy denies any valid reason for self-defense. Never does he mention the USA, or the reasons for the American Revolution. Perhaps freedom, in this life, is worth dying for or killing for? For a man who always lived under a Czar, and who had wealth of his own, perhaps such freedom was either unimaginable r seemed unnecessary.
Murder is a legal term. Tolstoy deems that all killing is murder. As one who chooses to live this life, on this Earth, I've learned to accept that death is part of life. Not everyone will die of natural causes in old age. Unfortunately, human beings will wage war. Death on the battlefield, does not fit the legal definition of murder. Tolstoy experienced war in his age. Brutal, beyond brutal, fought not for freedom or justice but at the whims of kings and tyrants.
The Dalai Lama recently stated that non-violence will not work against terrorists because their hearts are not open to G-d. Tolstoy does not seem to grasp that those whose hearts and minds are open will perish at the hands of those whose hearts and minds are not.
"Those who do not live by the sword can still die upon them".
The theory of non-violence is an important and significant concept. Yet, the idea that all killing is murder and therefore against G-d's plan defies any sense of understanding of humanity. If G-d gave individuals life, it is to be cherished and protected. It can best be protected thru the individual responsibility of self-defense.
Democratic Government, which was foreign to Tolstoy, is an extension of that individual responsibility.
 Should be required reading for any educated person. May 1, 2009
Andrew J. Herman
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
When you are a little baby you are fed milk and when you grow up the status quo wants to maintain their ungodly power and authority by creating a mystical image of power and authority for all subordinates to believe in and suckle milk from...not Leo Tolstoy! This book more than any I have ever read wants for humanity to get off the teet and grow up!
We need to be accountable to ourselves and for our brothers and sisters near and far. No longer can we sit back and have faith in governments and religions and political orders. They have caused most of the problems we now face and are certainly not showing any signs of ameliorating them.
This book has more meat per page than most books could begin to boast from cover to cover.
Read it and find an inner strength that (was always there) is given freely, never taxed, never requires an oath or signature because the truth is that THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU!
Great product March 24, 2009
K. Gale (Pa, USA)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
I really appreciated the communication when there was a problem with my credit card and also the prompt shipment. I was also impressed with the quality and condition of my purchase. Thanks alot. Book (The Kingdom of God is within you).
Showing reviews 1-5 of 42
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