Dostoevsky had a belief in the Christian Idea of salvation through suffering?

Question

What do you think?

He came to this conclusion whilst serving penial servitude

Answer 1

D's belief is a little more complex and subtle than you state. In his most lucid book, The Devils, he even seems to suggest that salvation can be reached via sin. And everything he writes, especially in that book, is tinged with his own experiences of epilepsy, where the imminent onset of a fit brings with it a kind of revelation. In any case, he is an extremely deep writer who is difficult to contain within one view.

Answer 2

Certainly D's novel "Crime and Punishment" looks to be a relatively unambiguous confirmation of your thesis. But other Dostoyevsky works would throw some kinks into that thesis.

"Notes from the Underground" comes immediately to mind. The anti-hero of that work certainly suffers a great deal but seems stuck in a self-defeating cycle of misery that simultaneously compels him to make those around him miserable as well. Doesn't sound like "salvation" to me, but I could see valid avenues towards reaching a different conclusion.

In any case, if a Christian were to claim that suffering *by necessity* leads to salvation, they would not be far from having to concede that all people will be saved, because sadly in the end we all do suffer -- if for no other reason that we all must die.

I do not think D would ultimately agree with this view, nor do I think that his collective works reflect such a stance. It might be more constructive to soften your claim to the possibility that suffering can create opportunities for salvation -- and then ask yourself what else is required in the culture, the local environment, the minds and souls of the characters in question, to further facilitate the life-and-death decisions we make in the face of those opportunities.

Honestly, in Dostoyevsky I believe the more relevant question is whether we have free will at all. If not, salvation is moot because either outcome is dictated by forces outside the control of any individual.

Answer 3

His existentialist standpoint stems from two sources, from his own undeserved suffering in the hands of authority and disappointment with the Church as Devil's instrument rather than God's, and takes a stand akin to that of Kierkegaard, avoiding cozy gatherings, remains a living example of Religious Belief is not Social rather Personal.

Although it is suspeciuos Dostoevsky believed in salvation through suffering, it is precise that salvation through suffering is a Christian Idea, but fell like ninepins like salvation through Church, salvation through faith and work. It is amusing and encouraging to hear that salvation is feasible outside Church, although the majority belongs to one of the former.

Answer 4

I am sure the penal system of many if not all countries has an effect on a persons mind.

Personally I cannot see a logical purpose for suffering to gain salvation. In my mind suffering comes from making mistakes and is there to steer you away from going further or making the same mistakes again.

Answer 5

Certain types of suffering deepen your understanding of yourself. But I cannot say this for a child's suffering unless the Theory of Reincarnation is true. It is the only way to make sense of it.
If there were no suffering in the world, though, would we not be like monsters? What would soften us and make us care about anyone else?

Answer 6

There is no idea of salvation through suffering in Christianity. Salvation is through faith and repentance. The end.

Answer 7

This is a stock reading of Dostoevsky.

Answer 8

We all get confused at times.

Answer 9

Hey if this concept works for you go for it