Read a chapter of Kingdom of God by Tolstoy. Had got the book from list of books that Gandhi was inspired by. The book was written when Tolstoy was around 50 and facing a spiritual crisis. Had achieved all he could have wanted materially and artistically is what the prefaces typically say. And was asking the question what for and what more? He turned to Christianity and church but was soon dillusioned by it and came out with a series of books and essays damming the church and detailing his spiritual thoughts.. Anyways this book is considered amongst his most influential books on the subject. It is not an easy book to read since it is not just religious in nature but more specifically Christianity focussed. As I usually do when faced with such writings, I was browsing different chapters and settled for no obvious reason on the final chapter, which is about 30 odd pages atleast in itself. I have not completed it yet. But read about half of it. It is an aggrieved, gut wrenching potrayal of the exploitation of the peasants in Russia at the time by the army/govt, all the same, and how it was so against the doctrines of Christ. The narrative thus far is dominated by 2/3 events which detail the domination and torture/murder of the poor, famished, landless peasants by the landlords, govt and army. BUt its the fundamental questions that are weaved in the narrative, which anchor them.
The first question asked is why do the judge, govt and soldier support the torture/murder of these peasants when they all seem to be reasonable people who in private life would not even think of harming or stealing.. But then what made them do these hideous acts without so much as a flutter of the conscience?
The reason given in his experience by each level of individual involved in this crime, is that it is to protect and maintain the status quo of the goverment structure.. My words here are not quite right, but as I understood, it meant; keeping the status quo of the situation, what was right/wrong as government was espousing. So if the Govt. driven social structure was that whoever did not support the Tzar shoudl be punished by death or that the peasants did not have rights versus the higher classses of society adn their supression was essential in order to keep them in check, that had to be maintained.
Tolstoy's argument is two fold. His primary consideration is Why people are believing this? His first reason is that for the judges, landowners and senior govt officials it is their self preservation which makes thme need to maintain the status quo. Those who are in power by supressing teh masses and know that if they are not in power they would be in danger, will have the need to not have the structure challenge it and do everything to keep it. They also know that their current luxuries are built upon the exploitation of the people and attached to the positiosn they hold, not because of whats in them as people. And if they are out of these positions, what work woudl they get? So the reasons for those in power to maintain the status quo is quite obvious.
But then the question is why does the lowest level in that chain who actually perpetuate the crimer and the torture do it? He has rises from the peasant people himself. And those he kills and murders are his companions. Why does he do it? He also does not have greate benefits accruing to him because of the current structure. He is paid poorly. And there is immense dehumanization of his lot. So why does he do it? Tolstoy's experience of speakign to soldiers about how they see their acts consistent with their beliefs as religious Christians, is that they believe that 1) if the Govt is saying this needs to happen, the Govt, all these senior people cannot be wrong, there must be a reason. It is my ignorance. 2) There must be something in Christianity which allows this seeming inconsistency to co-exist. Again it is my ignorance that I dont know it.
But he adds that there is something very distinct that the military does with and to these soldiers to make them kill without a second glance at their conscience. And that is the military code of conduct which says that the soldier shall at all times carry out the orders of his superior without any questions or challenges. And also tha his allegience shall at all times be towards the Tzar and his interests should not be compromised. Tolstoy believes that these aspects of the soldier's training has played a big part in their brainwashing.
He goes on to the argument that this whole business of torture and murder happens because the lowest level of soldier is there as the tool to be used for these acts. The judges and others in Govt who play a role in this act finally taking place never see the consequences of their action or decision. If the soldier refused to act and commit the crime, these higher level officers would not be able to get it executed.
His narrations of the scenes of poor peasants getting flogged, murdered are vivid in their descriptions. That it has affected Tolstoy greatly is evident from the focus and detail these descriptions have in the chapter.
The first question asked is why do the judge, govt and soldier support the torture/murder of these peasants when they all seem to be reasonable people who in private life would not even think of harming or stealing.. But then what made them do these hideous acts without so much as a flutter of the conscience?
The reason given in his experience by each level of individual involved in this crime, is that it is to protect and maintain the status quo of the goverment structure.. My words here are not quite right, but as I understood, it meant; keeping the status quo of the situation, what was right/wrong as government was espousing. So if the Govt. driven social structure was that whoever did not support the Tzar shoudl be punished by death or that the peasants did not have rights versus the higher classses of society adn their supression was essential in order to keep them in check, that had to be maintained.
Tolstoy's argument is two fold. His primary consideration is Why people are believing this? His first reason is that for the judges, landowners and senior govt officials it is their self preservation which makes thme need to maintain the status quo. Those who are in power by supressing teh masses and know that if they are not in power they would be in danger, will have the need to not have the structure challenge it and do everything to keep it. They also know that their current luxuries are built upon the exploitation of the people and attached to the positiosn they hold, not because of whats in them as people. And if they are out of these positions, what work woudl they get? So the reasons for those in power to maintain the status quo is quite obvious.
But then the question is why does the lowest level in that chain who actually perpetuate the crimer and the torture do it? He has rises from the peasant people himself. And those he kills and murders are his companions. Why does he do it? He also does not have greate benefits accruing to him because of the current structure. He is paid poorly. And there is immense dehumanization of his lot. So why does he do it? Tolstoy's experience of speakign to soldiers about how they see their acts consistent with their beliefs as religious Christians, is that they believe that 1) if the Govt is saying this needs to happen, the Govt, all these senior people cannot be wrong, there must be a reason. It is my ignorance. 2) There must be something in Christianity which allows this seeming inconsistency to co-exist. Again it is my ignorance that I dont know it.
But he adds that there is something very distinct that the military does with and to these soldiers to make them kill without a second glance at their conscience. And that is the military code of conduct which says that the soldier shall at all times carry out the orders of his superior without any questions or challenges. And also tha his allegience shall at all times be towards the Tzar and his interests should not be compromised. Tolstoy believes that these aspects of the soldier's training has played a big part in their brainwashing.
He goes on to the argument that this whole business of torture and murder happens because the lowest level of soldier is there as the tool to be used for these acts. The judges and others in Govt who play a role in this act finally taking place never see the consequences of their action or decision. If the soldier refused to act and commit the crime, these higher level officers would not be able to get it executed.
His narrations of the scenes of poor peasants getting flogged, murdered are vivid in their descriptions. That it has affected Tolstoy greatly is evident from the focus and detail these descriptions have in the chapter.
