Religion From Tolstoy to Camus

It is Widely recognized that one can discuss religious ideas in connection with works of literature, but exceedingly few poets and novelists have been movers and Shakers of religion. Leo Tolstoy, who was just that, has not been given the attention he deserves from students of religion. With all due respect to twentieth-century poets and novelists who are more fashionable, it is doubtful that any of their works have the stature of Tolstoy's Resurrection. This novel does not merely illustrate ideas one might like to discuss anyway but aims rather to revise our thinking about morals and religion. To say that Tolstoy was a very great writer, or even that his Stature surpassed that of any twentieth-century theologian, may be very safe and trite. But a much bolder claim is worth considering: perhaps he is more important for the history of religion during the century covered in this volume than any theologian; perhaps he has contributed more of real importance and original ity and issues a greater challenge to us. That is why his name appears in the title of this book, and why he has been given more space than anyone else.