This paper aims to reflect on Leo Tolstoy's pathbreaking Christian ethics from the perspective of C.S. Lewis's more path-dependent Christian apologetics. Despite its enormous influence on modern and Christian cultures throughout the world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Tolstoy's Christian ethics has been criticised by a number of theological and cultural scholars in the West. C.S. Lewis, a member of the Anglican Church in the 20th century, criticised the 'blind and unconditional pacifism' that caused such a stir in British Christian and intellectual circles. This can be seen as a revolt against the fashion for Tolstoy's ideas. In The Screwtape Letters, he satirically presents diabolical strategies and tactics for dragging human souls into hell through the extreme politicisation of Christian thought, either on the right or the left. Tolstoy's pacifism belongs to the progressive wing. Furthermore, Lewis is highly critical of modern liberal theology, which claims the 'historical Jesus' and ignores the messiahship of Jesus Christ and human salvation. In this respect, Lewis is shown to be critical of Tolstoy's historical and ethical reinterpretation of Jesus Christ and the Bible. On the other hand, Lewis seems to have a link with Tolstoy in his criticism of the corruption and bureaucracy of institutionalised power. This comparative reflection on the Christian thought of Tolstoy and Lewis could help to overcome the East-West dichotomy and create a more universal Christian culture, better able to address fundamental Christian issues in theory and practice.

Authors:
Kyongwan Lee, University of Hallym, South Korea

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Kyongwan Lee, researcher and lecturer, Russian classic literature and Chistian culture. The current project is "Comparison of Christian Apologetics in Modern Russian-Western Literature: Centering on Church-State and East-West Relationships"

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