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A sect that rejects sacraments and ritual。＇； and others。 And I
met among them many men of lofty morals who were truly religious。
I wished to be a brother to them。 And what happened？ That
teaching which promised to unite all in one faith and love that
very teaching； in the person of its best representatives； told me
that these men were all living a lie； that what gave them their
power of life was a temptation of the devil； and that we alone
possess the only possible truth。 And I saw that all who do not
profess an identical faith with themselves are considered by the
Orthodox to be heretics； just as the Catholics and others consider
the Orthodox to be heretics。 And i saw that the Orthodox （though
they try to hide this） regard with hostility all who do not express
their faith by the same external symbols and words as themselves；
and this is naturally so； first； because the assertion that you are
in falsehood and I am in truth； is the most cruel thing one man can
say to another； and secondly； because a man loving his children and
brothers cannot help being hostile to those who wish to pervert his
children and brothers to a false belief。 And that hostility is
increased in proportion to one's greater knowledge of theology。
And to me who considered that truth lay in union by love； it became
self…evident that theology was itself destroying what it ought to
produce。
This offence is so obvious to us educated people who have
lived in countries where various religions are professed and have
seen the contempt； self…assurance； and invincible contradiction
with which Catholics behave to the Orthodox Greeks and to the
Protestants； and the Orthodox to Catholics and Protestants； and the
Protestants to the two others； and the similar attitude of Old…
Believers； Pashkovites （Russian Evangelicals）； Shakers； and all
religions that the very obviousness of the temptation at first
perplexes us。 One says to oneself： it is impossible that it is so
simple and that people do not see that if two assertions are
mutually contradictory； then neither of them has the sole truth
which faith should possess。 There is something else here； there
must be some explanation。 I thought there was； and sought that
explanation and read all I could on the subject； and consulted all
whom I could。 And no one gave me any explanation； except the one
which causes the Sumsky Hussars to consider the Sumsky Hussars the
best regiment in the world； and the Yellow Uhlans to consider that
the best regiment in the world is the Yellow Uhlans。 The
ecclesiastics of all the different creeds； through their best
representatives； told me nothing but that they believed themselves
to have the truth and the others to be in error； and that all they
could do was to pray for them。 I went to archimandrites； bishops；
elders； monks of the strictest orders； and asked them； but none of
them made any attempt to explain the matter to me except one man；
who explained it all and explained it so that I never asked any one
any more about it。 I said that for every unbeliever turning to a
belief （and all our young generation are in a position to do so）
the question that presents itself first is； why is truth not in
Lutheranism nor in Catholicism； but in Orthodoxy？ Educated in the
high school he cannot help knowing what the peasants do not know
that the Protestants and Catholics equally affirm that their faith
is the only true one。 Historical evidence； twisted by each
religion in its own favour； is insufficient。 Is it not possible；
said I； to understand the teaching in a loftier way； so that from
its height the differences should disappear； as they do for one who
believes truly？ Can we not go further along a path like the one we
are following with the Old…Believers？ They emphasize the fact that
they have a differently shaped cross and different alleluias and a
different procession round the altar。 We reply： You believe in
the Nicene Creed； in the seven sacraments； and so do we。 Let us
hold to that； and in other matters do as you pease。 We have united
with them by placing the essentials of faith above the
unessentials。 Now with the Catholics can we not say： You believe
in so and so and in so and so； which are the chief things； and as
for the Filioque clause and the Pope do as you please。 Can we
not say the same to the Protestants； uniting with them in what is
most important？
My interlocutor agreed with my thoughts； but told me that such
conceptions would bring reproach o the spiritual authorities for
deserting the faith of our forefathers； and this would produce a
schism； and the vocation of the spiritual authorities is to
safeguard in all its purity the Greco…Russian Orthodox faith
inherited from our forefathers。
And I understood it all。 I am seeking a faith； the power of
life； and they are seeking the best way to fulfil in the eyes of
men certain human obligations。 and fulfilling these human affairs
they fulfil them in a human way。 However much they may talk of
their pity for their erring brethren； and of addressing prayers for
them to the throne of the Almighty to carry out human purposes
violence is necessary； and it has always been applied and is and
will be applied。 If of two religions each considers itself true
and the other false； then men desiring to attract others to the
truth will preach their own doctrine。 And if a false teaching is
preached to the inexperienced sons of their Church which as the
truth then that Church cannot but burn the books and remove the
man who is misleading its sons。 What is to be done with a
sectarian burning； in the opinion of the Orthodox； with the fire
of false doctrine who in the most important affair of life； in
faith； misleads the sons of the Church？ What can be done with him
except to cut off his head or to incarcerate him？ Under the Tsar
Alexis Mikhaylovich people were burned at the stake； that is to
say； the severest method of punishment of the time was applied； and
in our day also the severest method of punishment is applied
detention in solitary confinement。 ＇Footnote： At the time this
was written capital punishment was considered to be abolished in
Russia。 A。M。＇
The second relation of the Church to a question of life was
with regard to war and executions。
At that time Russia was at war。 And Russians； in the name of
Christian love； began to kill their fellow men。 It was impossible
not to think about this； and not to see that killing is an evil
repugnant to the first principles of any faith。 Yet prayers were
said in the churches for the success of our arms； and the teachers
of the Faith acknowledged killing to be an act resulting from the
Faith。 And besides the murders during the war； I saw； during the
disturbances which followed the war； Church dignitaries and
teachers and monks of the lesser and stricter orders who approved
the killing of helpless； erring youths。 And I t