The Grand Inquisitor - John Gielgud 

What about The Making Of Americans by G. Stein? I share your enthusiasm for Dostoevsky also

@@michaelcrouch8783 Americans? I pity you, fool.

Well…besides The Bible (it’s inspiration), right?

How sick and criminal was the RC Pope? Jesus never commanded anyone be harmed or forced to follow Him. Just as sick and criminal as keeping the Bible in Latin for 1200 years so no common man could read it. Just as sick and criminal as ordering military crusades against Jews and Muslims.

@@bobbrown7386wrong. He never mentioned it, don’t put your words in other people’s mouth

Its breathtaking. And 'Experto Crede', friend, there have been, and are many, many Princes of the Roman and Jesuit Curia's that are more or less exactly as how the Grand Inquisitior was portrayed. Id highly recommend (with a word of warning first; you may uncover something unsavory) delving into the Esoteric history of the Vatican, and more specifically the Jesuit Order. John Poynders History of the Jesuits in two volumes, is a masterpiece, as is John Adam's (not written by him, but owned) History of the Jesuits written in 4 volumes of twelve. Or if annal searching isn't your parte, I would reccomend this video of historic citations about the Order: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ypRb8Z3dMRs.html (Only this video by Worldslastchance, I cannot reccomend any other content by them) Also, I have a personal composition of citations, which is quite extensive: docs.google.com/document/d/1wq6vGNyFRSQ2qMdXbEPnB6wR5EiCltdysG8bKcHeGMk/edit?usp=drivesdk

It's telling that Dostoyevsky puts the Character of Christ with the schismatic Roman Catholics. Not with an Orthodox Bishop.

@@katherinecross8059 Oh, you Orthodox... :)

Amen

Exactly! I'm not even christin and this chapter hit me.

Did you finally read it again?

Freud also called it the greatest novel ever written.

He also arguably invented the concept of the anti hero: the person who does the wrong thing for the right reason or, the right thing for the wrong reason. If there was no Dostoyevsky there might not be no spaghetti western ala 'man with no name'. He helped to make Clint Eastwood look good! And Columbo was also partially based around Porfiry Petrovich, the gentle detective from Crime and Punishment.

Is it fast or slow? I meant ten years of time which you was spend in life? Dostoevsky is infinite

have you read it yet

Has your Mind Changed at all ?

just remember above all Dostoevsky was a believer!

Homer as a historical figure never existed. He is basically a composite of the unknown, unnamed oral and written story-tellers down through the ages who told, retold and embellished the myths and legends.

@Snaggle Toothed without Jesus, Dostoyevsky doesn't make any sense. It is his point, the Gospel.

​@Snaggle Toothed What you're saying doesn't make sense. First, it's not comparable to Homer and Zeus, because understanding of or believing in Zeus and other Greek deities isn't essential to understanding of Homer's works (for various reasons I don't have time to go into right now). Dostoevsky on the other hand made the relation between humans and Christ the focal point of many of his works, and TBK most of all. And in TBK, TGI chapter is almost entirely focused on that subject. And, since there are numerous interpretations of TGI, it is rather important to remember that a believer wrote it. It's also important to remember that he chose a non-believer character to be "the author" of the poem itself in the novel. Disregarding all that as irrelevant is just ridiculous. Now, I'd never say that Dostoevsky doesn't make sense for readers who don't believe in Christ, because the perspective as described (a believer speaking through the character who's a non-believer) is complex enough to enable practically anyone, no matter where they stand on religion, to understand and appreciate what's going on. Dostoevsky was writing for atheists as well, he was actually addressing them with his novels. But he was doing all that as a true believer. If you tend to simplify the matter of religion down to "I've never seen evidence that Jesus existed so there is no Jesus", as your somewhat arrogant replies suggest, I don't think there's a lot you can understand or enjoy in Dostoevsky's works, but at the end of the day it's your choice what to read.

If it were on TV today, the Bishop would be a differently-abled Latina woman and Jesus would be a flamboyant homosexual.

Yes I'm scared by it Reminds me of the heartless social darwins and eugenics

@@michaelcrouch8783 Or anyone who lives in Vatican City...

Excuse my intrusion..not all. Only the Chosen few❤

When some one is free, they are responsible for their decisions, both good and bad, wrong or right. This means that they cannot blame others, it's all on them. That's what's frightening about freedom

@@ianmottert1584But then full freedom does not exist because if one had it then it would have no limitations and one would also be free to blame others. In other words, by the act of exercising full freedom one loses it because one becomes constrained by the consequences of one’s choice

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DfwYcyXwagQ.html

Edward Fox.

travismalone1985 I froze after reading that chapter

Dostoevsky was was Orthodox Christian....yes....but he was fairly unorthodox in his beliefs. I wouldn't. trust him for faithful Christianity, especially this particular part of his novel. He completely mischaracterizes Jesus and the Church. Jesus used miracles, authority, & mystery for example & he continued that with his Apostles. Just read the Gospels, its pretty obvious.

@@redimerfortitudo the guy who recites the tale is Ivan Karamazov who is atheist not Dostoyevsky...

@@redimerfortitudo what Dostoevsky was pointing out was Jesus refused to perform miracles to impress people.

@@moesypittounikos i think this is it.

@@brotherbrovet1881 I am romanian. I was raised by an orthodox christian family. I do not see it as something great.... Priests are greedy for money, while the poor people that they are preaching to are being kept uneducated and live in darkness... My grandmother who keeps these traditions ever since she was a little girl and learned them from her mother, she does not know who Jesus was, and what were his teachings... I love her and she loves me for she fought hard to keep me alive as I was growing up. I cannot deny the fact that her heart is great... but my goodness... the orthodox christianity that I grew up with is more about traditions and less about living the truth of Christ... People do not know why os it that they do what they do.... they do not understand the meaning of all these holidays... They just take for true whathever the priests have to say.... They are building a big cathedral worth a ton of money... Whilst people struggle in poverty and stupidity :(..... I am not the one who is smart....but I see with my own eyes... There are also orthodox priests that live away from the people...in small huts... And maybe they are the ones that keep the truw faith alive...but they are not known by many... "for narrow is the gate that leads to life" I dont visit churches anymore...nor orthodox nor catholic or protestant... I am confused, and I just read whatever I get my hands on... I have many unanswered questions.... Maybe I should seek the advice of those hermits....

@@brotherbrovet1881 You are the Jeova Witness of the Orthodox Church

Dostoevsky was was Orthodox Christian....yes....but he was fairly unorthodox in his beliefs. I wouldn't. trust him for faithful Christianity, especially this particular part of his novel. He completely mischaracterizes Jesus and the Church. Jesus used miracles, authority, & mystery for example & he continued that with his Apostles. Just read the Gospels, its pretty obvious.

redimerfortitudo Dostoevsky was a slavophil orthodox. He put down Roman papacy quite a bit in his literature.

I appreciate your humility, every epoch in my life when faced with suffering, I reread this, each time I figure something new.

The part of The Brothers Karamazov that really gripped me, was Ivan's feverish meeting with The Devil. The Devil only repeated the things Ivan had said that he now regretted most, and the things he was most embarrassed about. Of course, this could all be a figment of his fevered imagination - but as an atheist, what would be the difference? With no ultimate good or evil, Ivan is his own critic. It's magnificently written.

Well, Aljosja did tell him in the Grand Inquisitor chapter "How can you live with a hell in your head?" Poor Ivan, didn't see the funny side how a man with a Lofty mind could spawn such a petty devil from his own evils.

@@paulo1ftw Ivan knew the vision was real, following his series of meetings with Smerdyakov. What was haunting him is that he had rejected Father Zosima and Alyosha's contention that one single sin can have chain reactions that impact other people, saying anything is permissible to Smerdyakov earlier. Of course, Ivan meant this in a corporate sense, meaning that the masses can direct their own morality without needing the church to guide them, yet Smerdyakov took this as an invitation to better his own lot amorally as the ends justify the means and this horrified Ivan because he hadn't got murder in mind. Ivan had provided Smerdyakov with the framework to commit murder, stripping away the moral boundaries for him. Smerdyakov had pointed out to Ivan that in a sense he was as guilty as he himself was and this was tormenting Ivan.

I agree: but out of interest what are the other works you think are in the same league?

@@MarlboroughBlenheim1 There are too many to mention to be honest. I don’t see what all the fuss is about this book… Moby Dick, per example, is far far superior, in every single sense of what a novel can do. But I guess the BK is somehow very important to Christians who have at times wavered in their faith. And big D certainly has some moments of genius insight, no doubt. Still, overlong and quite silly novel IMO.

@@lukehunnable moby dick? I don’t think anyone who seriously understands literature would suggest that Dostoyevsky’s Brothers Karamazov is second to moby dick. BK deals with deep philosophical issues and Freud thought it was the greatest novel ever written about human psychology. Moby dick is a great story but doesn’t even begin to address the deeper moral truths that Dostoyevsky does. I’m not sure you’ve read BK.

@@MarlboroughBlenheim1 Why does it matter what Freud thought about it? I don’t seriously understand literature but literature isn’t in the category of philosophy, and that’s for a reason. Literature is an artistic exploit, through words. Words must convey meaning and emotion beyond their etymology and semantic value. To do this, all sorts of techniques can be employed. Big D employs none of them. He writes more like a playwright than a great novelist. Moby Dick is so much better written and so much more evocative and imaginative through the use of words, that it’s not even in the same league. It also deals with big ideas, but does so in a much more subdued manner, not a preachy and heavy handed one like Mr. D. I do believe D was a genius, had amazing insights and imagination, but, as a writer, he falls short a lot of the time. Inconsistent rhythm, characters who are totally different but somehow speak the same, no details on surroundings and their affect on characters’ moods, meandering sub-plots that add little to overarching theme. As a philosopher, grappling with these same ideas, Nietzsche is also on another planet, clearly. What the BK takes 1000 pages to expose and critique, Nietzsche can do in one page, and more explosively and controversially. And, again, who cares that Nietzsche also looked up to Mr. D? Michelangelo also looked up to Bertoldo di Giovanni, but surpassed him. So, even though I think he’s great, I do believe people exaggerate and have developed a sort of tunnel vision towards him. The Russians consider him to be nowhere near Pushkin, Tolstoy and Gogol, so that should tell you something. I have just finished BK, have you read Moby Dick?

@@lukehunnable that’s your view, which I don’t accept. Literature is an art form and can be philosophical or anything that the writer wants it to be. Good literature says something about the human condition and what can offer more insights into moral and philosophical ideas than this? Shakespeare and Dostoyevsky and others do this and whether you like it or it’s to your taste - and it is challenging and complex and not easy to access - then that is a reflection of your likes and dislikes, not on the writer’s ability. If you haven’t read BK then I can’t take seriously your critique of it. There is a reason that certain literature is heralded years and years later.

Bravo

Shakespeare’s use of verse and language tops it; but I agree it’s astoundingly good.

@@MarlboroughBlenheim1 Shakespeare may be the best writer in terms of language, but Dostoevsky will always be the best in terms of profundity.

@@uncleusuh and you feel able to judge both, in which case you must hold yourself in high esteem. One might ask for a definition of both factors because I would suggest that the separation is artificial. Beautiful language about life and love and death is itself profound; and profound thoughts and expressions can’t be communicated in a way that isn’t itself profound by definition, otherwise they wouldn’t be profound.

Very nicely put.

add to Inquisitor Castaneda, maybe this will settle down in your head.

Freedoms end, deaths call to life, truths duality built on the kindness of falsehood, hypocrisy’s calling to truth. Pure and utter shits breath. Life

Christs lie built in truth, die with no honor, but love.

Trinity’s force

Mystery rejects loves love

Disgusting reject

***** :)

He would probably say something that would get him straight back to Siberia. No matter what happens to humanity, there will always be Siberia.

Dostoevsky had words that were so prophetic, that they are more applicable today than they were then. He would likely wish to finish the Karamazov trilogy. If anything, I would instead wonder what would happen if Jesus Christ was born again today. What would he say? Who would he side with. I believe he would have even less to say. Those that have followed his words have spoken for him, in great triumph and great progress. His words resisted 100 years of the horrible evil in communism. His words, while left behind and ignored in the west, will provide hope and love in those lost. Those who seek will be found, and will find themselves alone in a world that needs it so badly. Yet these words will continue to exist as they always have, just as ancient Greek texts. Just waiting to be read.

He'd most certainly be on the side of today's Russia. He was always ultimately on the side of Russian Orthodox Christian civillisation, no matter what.

@@olimikromov7817 the religious are never happy with the status quo. If things went well, there'd be no need for them. Did you even watch the video? He says as much.

Yes

Watch my back Jesus

@@michaelcrouch8783 amen I am learning so much I am excited to get deeper in Christ

@@sarahkay830 my daddy backhanded me in the face and told me that life is hard. He was right life is hard. Believe in God and trust in Jesus is a fantastic comfort.

But take in account that where is no "afterlife" and "resurrection" (both - miracles !) The Grand Spirit of Self-destruction and Non-egsistence - is saying (through the lips of Old Man..) the deep truth.. Hence - whatever is the option you choose, 1) or you choose "Miracle" (hence - you throw yourself down from the corner of the temple, as the Spirit wanted you to do..) 2) or - you admitt the rightfullness of Grand Inquisitor's reasoning.. (and you distribute earthly bread, and grasp the Sword of Empire - with your own hand.. as the Spirit wanted..). The monologue is much deeper, more paradoxical and much more tormenting (than you've described it..) - I mean.. 😒🤷‍♂️

So beautiful

Love Conquers All... ♥️

Could you elaborate more on this comment?

there is no satan, but men with oppressive thoughts

Could you elaborate more on this comment?

@@tuanjim799 I think what he means, is that Ivan (Through the Inquisitor) is very earth centered; His criticises Jesus for not "fixing the world" even though that wasn't Jesus' purpose, it was to save souls *(John 3:16).* In his anguish over the state of the present world, he fails to consider the reason it is like this at all (Sin) nor the hope for what is coming after.

*Son of God*

Nope it wasnt like that, its how he made it.

Wow! I know that feeling

you missed out your killer self, which is why its always free to kill because you refuse to see it!

ps when he took Christ in also took in the Grand Inquisitor, whilst Christ resides in silence the Inquisitor doesn't Inquisitor always was big on killing the infidels to save the millions lost just as Ivan can't see all his brothers he doesn't see his own Inquisitor until its too late

final p.s. Smerdyakov A.K.A Mr Hyde is produce of Alyosha A.K.A. Dr Jekyll refusal to accept the smelly one as part of themselves they both create the killer in the quest not to be the smelly corpse that was always their destiny as humans.

Yeah, his position, his verbiage is that of Man... eternal, unregenerate man. The "christ" says nothing... He is not the risen Christ... He is some other. Dostoevsky does not understand Christian theology.

This was a metaphor for the state of the church and totalitarianism, not a literal interpretation of Christ's return.

Exactly. But, it gives us a good look into the psychology of Doestoevsky and so many in the liberal arts (Luke 19:14; 14:25-35; 19:11-27). Basically, this is the one issue between God and Man (the liberal arts, etc.). Don't forget Doestoevsky coined the phrase-- "God is dead." Doestoevsky is not helpful at all regarding Christian Truth and Knowing. Flannary O'Conner, too; like so many others. It is left to us to reform the world under the flag of Christianity. No prisoners!

You are misguided. Nietzsche took the concept--"God is dead"--from Doestoevsky! Nietzsche (1844-1900) lived after Doestoevsky (1821-1881) not before! RU-vid comments section needs lessons. I would suggest a good community college.

You're excused.

Missing l. Twice.

Better than Disney

Oh man, I hope you decided to give it another go. It's so worth it. Life-changing stuff.

Amen!

Yes Dictators free themselves And enslave people But Jesus has given us Heaven , Love,beyond that

@@michaelcrouch8783 no Jesus showed to us that heaven is here on earth and during a persons lifetime

@@leusmaximusx you're waking me up when I'm an old disabled man to ask me something about a remark I made one year ago.

@@leusmaximusx Jesus is everywhere.