按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
dances； luscious food； all the elements of our modern life； in a
word； from the pictures on the little boxes of sweetmeats up to
the novel； the tale； and the poem； contribute to fan this
sensuality into a strong； consuming flame； with the result that
sexual vices and diseases have come to be the normal conditions
of the period of tender youth； and often continue into the riper
age of full…blown manhood。 And I am of opinion that this is not
right。
It is high time it ceased。 The children of human beings should
not be brought up as if they were animals； and we should set up
as the object and strive to maintain as the result of our labors
something better and nobler than a well…dressed body。 This is my
fourth contention。
In the fifth place； I am of opinion that； owing to the
exaggerated and erroneous significance attributed by our society
to love and to the idealized states that accompany and succeed
it； the best energies of our men and women are drawn forth and
exhausted during the most promising period of life； those of the
men in the work of looking for； choosing； and winning the most
desirable objects of love； for which purpose lying and fraud are
held to be quite excusable； those of the women and girls in
alluring men and decoying them into liaisons or marriage by the
most questionable means conceivable； as an instance of which the
present fashions in evening dress may be cited。 I am of opinion
that this is not right。
The truth is； that the whole affair has been exalted by poets and
romancers to an undue importance； and that love in its various
developments is not a fitting object to consume the best energies
of men。 People set it before them and strive after it； because
their view of life is as vulgar and brutish as is that other
conception frequently met with in the lower stages of
development； which sees in luscious and abundant food an end
worthy of man's best efforts。 Now； this is not right and should
not be done。 And； in order to avoid doing it； it is only needful
to realize the fact that whatever truly deserves to be held up as
a worthy object of man's striving and working； whether it be the
service of humanity； of one's country； of science； of art； not to
speak of the service of God； is far above and beyond the sphere
of personal enjoyment。 Hence； it follows that not only to form a
liaison； but even to contract marriage； is； from a Christian
point of view； not a progress； but a fall。 Love； and all the
states that accompany and follow it； however we may try in prose
and verse to prove the contrary； never do and never can
facilitate the attainment of an aim worthy of men； but always
make it more difficult。 This is my fifth contention。
How about the human race？ If we admit that celibacy is better
and nobler than marriage； evidently the human race will come to
an end。 But； if the logical conclusion of the argument is that
the human race will become extinct； the whole reasoning is wrong。
To that I reply that the argument is not mine； I did not invent
it。 That it is incumbent on mankind so to strive； and that
celibacy is preferable to marriage； are truths revealed by Christ
1；900 years ago； set forth in our catechisms； and professed by us
as followers of Christ。
Chastity and celibacy； it is urged； cannot constitute the ideal
of humanity； because chastity would annihilate the race which
strove to realize it； and humanity cannot set up as its ideal its
own annihilation。 It may be pointed out in reply that only that
is a true ideal； which； being unattainable； admits of infinite
gradation in degrees of proximity。 Such is the Christian ideal
of the founding of God's kingdom； the union of all living
creatures by the bonds of love。 The conception of its attainment
is incompatible with the conception of the movement of life。
What kind of life could subsist if all living creatures were
joined together by the bonds of love？ None。 Our conception of
life is inseparably bound up with the conception of a continual
striving after an unattainable ideal。
But even if we suppose the Christian ideal of perfect chastity
realized； what then？ We should merely find ourselves face to
face on the one hand with the familiar teaching of religion； one
of whose dogmas is that the world will have an end； and on the
other of so…called science； which informs us that the sun is
gradually losing its heat； the result of which will in time be
the extinction of the human race。
Now there is not and cannot be such an institution as Christian
marriage； just as there cannot be such a thing as a Christian
liturgy （Matt。 vi。 5…12； John iv。 21）； nor Christian teachers；
nor church fathers （Matt。 xxiii。 8…10）； nor Christian armies；
Christian law courts； nor Christian States。 This is what was
always taught and believed by true Christians of the first and
following centuries。 A Christian's ideal is not marriage； but
love for God and for his neighbor。 Consequently in the eyes of a
Christian relations in marriage not only do not constitute a
lawful； right； and happy state； as our society and our churches
maintain； but； on the contrary； are always a fall。
Such a thing as Christian marriage never was and never could be。
Christ did not marry； nor did he establish marriage； neither did
his disciples marry。 But if Christian marriage cannot exist；
there is such a thing as a Christian view of marriage。 And this
is how it may be formulated： A Christian （and by this term I
understand not those who call themselves Christians merely
because they were baptized and still receive the sacrament once a
year； but those whose lives are shaped and regulated by the
teachings of Christ）； I say； cannot view the marriage relation
otherwise than as a deviation from the doctrine of Christ；as a
sin。 This is clearly laid down in Matt。 v。 28； and the ceremony
called Christian marriage does not alter its character one jot。
A Christian will never； therefore； desire marriage； but will
always avoid it。
If the light of truth dawns upon a Christian when he is already
married； or if； being a Christian； from weakness he enters into
marital relations with the ceremonies of the church； or without
them； he has no other alternative than to abide with his wife
（and the wife with her husband； if it is she who is a Christian）
and to aspire together with her to free themselves of their sin。
This is the Christian view of marriage； and there cannot be any
other for a man who honestly endeavors to shape his life in
accordance with the teachings of Christ。
To very many persons the thoughts I have uttered here and in 〃The
Kreutzer Sonata〃 will seem strange； vague； even contradictory。
They certainly do contradict； not each other； but the whole tenor
of our lives； and involuntarily a doubt arises； 〃on which side is
truth；on the side of the thoughts which seem true and
well…founded； or on the side of the lives of others and