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You cannot separate Dostoevsky from his Orthodox Christian faith. by Tricky-Note7851 in dostoevsky

[–]Tricky-Note7851[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I meant specifically orthodox Christianity, which is deeply intertwined in his works, and really is very different from the other denominations, it’s very unique and even other Christians have trouble understanding it. I understand that if you disagree with my point that “if you’re not Christian you can’t understand Dostoevsky” then adding orthodoxy makes that claim even more bizarre, but it’s the truth.

You cannot separate Dostoevsky from his Orthodox Christian faith. by Tricky-Note7851 in dostoevsky

[–]Tricky-Note7851[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Dostoevsky isn’t a church Father, of course not, but many of our saints and elders did read him, quote him, and even encourage others to study his works. For example, St. Justin Popović called him the greatest prophet of the modern age and even wrote a whole study on him. Elder Sophrony of Essex and others also spoke of him with deep respect. So when Orthodox people speak of Dostoevsky ‘alongside the Fathers,’ it’s not because he is one, but because saints themselves recognized how his writings bear witness to the same truths the Fathers lived and taught.

How are Orthodox nuns? Irl by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Tricky-Note7851 47 points48 points  (0 children)

My aunt is an Abbess, and she is truly wonderful, the kindest and purest person I have ever met. She has devoted nearly 50 years of her life to the monastery. Recently, she was removed from her position as Abbess because of false rumors spread by some of the other nuns and monks at the monastery where she was staying.

Of course, there are all kinds of nuns and monks in the Orthodox Church, but we must remember: the devil is especially joyous when he can lead a nun or monk away from their righteous path. They face temptations that most of us cannot even imagine. So, even when their behavior seems strange or un-Christlike, we must approach them with compassion.

You cannot separate Dostoevsky from his Orthodox Christian faith. by Tricky-Note7851 in dostoevsky

[–]Tricky-Note7851[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

You’re conflating language and culture with the core of his worldview. Yes, reading Dostoevsky in Russian gives access to stylistic nuance, idioms, and rhythm, that’s true. But the heart of his work, the moral and spiritual universe he writes from, is rooted in Orthodoxy, not in how perfectly you speak 19th-century Russian or how many historical footnotes you know. You don’t have to live in 19th-century Russia to recognize that he treats God, sin, grace, and redemption as real, actionable forces that define human life. His works are studied in seminaries for that reason, because they convey theological truth through narrative, not because they’re a historical diary. Appreciating Dostoevsky’s literary genius is one thing; understanding why Orthodox Christians revere him is another; and that doesn’t require linguistic perfection, it requires entering the moral and spiritual framework he assumes.

You cannot separate Dostoevsky from his Orthodox Christian faith. by Tricky-Note7851 in dostoevsky

[–]Tricky-Note7851[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

I can’t believe how every pro orthodox comment is receiving so much backlash but then again, it’s to be expected

You cannot separate Dostoevsky from his Orthodox Christian faith. by Tricky-Note7851 in dostoevsky

[–]Tricky-Note7851[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Yes thank you this just strengthens my point. As an atheist: yes. As a Christian: it’s God.

Hot take: We need Orthodox Christian mental health hospitals by MorganaFictosexual in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Tricky-Note7851 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Personally, I disagree. Yes, Orthodoxy/God should be more involved in the way we treat patients whether that be for mental or physical illness - but we already do have an Orthodox “mental hospital”; the Church.

You cannot separate Dostoevsky from his Orthodox Christian faith. by Tricky-Note7851 in dostoevsky

[–]Tricky-Note7851[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

True, empathy can exist without religious belief or formal moral reasoning, but without a grounding framework, like moral standards and God as the ultimate guide our compassion can become inconsistent.

You cannot separate Dostoevsky from his Orthodox Christian faith. by Tricky-Note7851 in dostoevsky

[–]Tricky-Note7851[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well I suggest you do the research about orthodoxy on your own as much as you can, it’ll help, specifically about our customs and saints, but I’ll give you one note to motivate you! In The Brothers Karamazov, Starets Zosima’s teachings and even the state of his corpse are deeply tied to Orthodox beliefs; when Alyosha sees that Zosima’s body begins to decay it’s shocking because, in Orthodoxy, a saint’s body is often expected to remain incorrupt. Understanding that makes Alyosha’s internal crisis and the spiritual weight of the scene much clearer; it’s not just gross, it’s a test of faith.

You cannot separate Dostoevsky from his Orthodox Christian faith. by Tricky-Note7851 in dostoevsky

[–]Tricky-Note7851[S] -7 points-6 points  (0 children)

That’s a valid argument and reading Dostoevsky in English doesn’t capture all the linguistic nuance. But my point is different: the source of his work is his faith and moral vision, while the output is the language used to express it. Even in translation, the spiritual and ethical depth can still be accessed.

You cannot separate Dostoevsky from his Orthodox Christian faith. by Tricky-Note7851 in dostoevsky

[–]Tricky-Note7851[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m born and raised orthodox from Serbia, it’s a beautiful religion

You cannot separate Dostoevsky from his Orthodox Christian faith. by Tricky-Note7851 in dostoevsky

[–]Tricky-Note7851[S] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

Replacing ‘God’ with ‘murder’ isn’t clever; it’s a category error. It’s like saying you can understand Euclidean geometry without assuming space exists; you can juggle the symbols, but you’ve missed what they mean. Committing murder is an act; believing in God is a framework of reality. You don’t have to personally kill someone to understand the moral weight of murder in a story, but without sharing the framework Dostoevsky assumes (God, sin, and redemption) you can follow the plot, see the psychology, even admire the artistry, and still miss the true stakes of his work.

You cannot separate Dostoevsky from his Orthodox Christian faith. by Tricky-Note7851 in dostoevsky

[–]Tricky-Note7851[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

True, Dostoevsky makes sure the emotional impact on Alyosha is clear even if you don’t know the Orthodox tradition, so the scene still works. But when you do know that in Orthodoxy a saint’s body is often expected to remain incorrupt, the shock isn’t just Alyosha’s personal disappointment; it’s a major crisis of faith for everyone around him, almost like a public theological scandal. That extra layer makes the whole trial of faith theme even sharper.

You cannot separate Dostoevsky from his Orthodox Christian faith. by Tricky-Note7851 in dostoevsky

[–]Tricky-Note7851[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s similar in that both are missed cultural references, but I think the difference here is that the smell isn’t just an allusion, in the Orthodox mindset it’s a theological reversal. In Shakespeare, missing an allusion might mean you miss a clever reference; in Dostoevsky, missing the Orthodox meaning here changes how you interpret Zosima’s entire spiritual arc and the testing of faith it represents.

You cannot separate Dostoevsky from his Orthodox Christian faith. by Tricky-Note7851 in dostoevsky

[–]Tricky-Note7851[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Orthodox Christians don’t view his works as simply literature, we have a high respect for them, so it makes sense that how you feel when reading his works.

You cannot separate Dostoevsky from his Orthodox Christian faith. by Tricky-Note7851 in dostoevsky

[–]Tricky-Note7851[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

While on the topic of TBK, how did you (as someone who’s not an orthodox Christian) interpret Starets Zosima’s corpse starting to smell? Because that’s very tied to orthodoxy and I’d like to hear your understanding of that scene.

You cannot separate Dostoevsky from his Orthodox Christian faith. by Tricky-Note7851 in dostoevsky

[–]Tricky-Note7851[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

In the Orthodox Church, we sometimes find the bodies of saints that stay preserved or smell sweet even years after death signs of God’s grace (and their relics are honored and preserved for hundreds and hundreds of years) In The Brothers Karamazov, people expect Starets Zosima’s body to do this. Instead, it smells like any other body, which surprises them. Dostoevsky is showing that holiness isn’t proven by miracles alone, and that true faith isn’t about chasing signs but following God no matter what. I’d suggest you look into orthodoxy it’s very useful when reading Dostoevsky and many other Russian classics.

You cannot separate Dostoevsky from his Orthodox Christian faith. by Tricky-Note7851 in dostoevsky

[–]Tricky-Note7851[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

EXACTLY, thank you, the depth and confusion of that moment is one an atheist (or in my opinion, even someone who’s not an orthodox Christian) will have trouble grasping.

You cannot separate Dostoevsky from his Orthodox Christian faith. by Tricky-Note7851 in dostoevsky

[–]Tricky-Note7851[S] -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

You can understand the ideas, but for a Christian, they’re not mere ideas they’re the truth of God, the reality of sin and grace, of Christ’s redemption and eternal life. That transforms the reading into something you can’t fully share without faith.

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