Dialogues

The MediaKniga studio presents the book “Dialogues” by Valentin Pavlovich Sventsitsky, an outstanding Russian theologian and philosopher. The great influence of his works was acknowledged by N.A. Berdyaev and I.A. Ilyin. One of the most important works by Sventsitsky—his culminating work, the summation of his life—“Dialogues” has been reissued many times and is in demand among the educated youth of the intelligentsia.

The book is a conversation between a spiritual mentor (confessor) and a unbelieving member of the intelligentsia, who is trying to understand the essence of the Christian worldview, the contradictions of materialism, and the necessity of faith in the process of knowing the truth.

“Unknown: “I’ve come to you not to confess. I just need to talk with you, but maybe that’s impossible?”

Spiritual mentor: “Why?”

Unknown: “You see, I want to talk about faith, but the man himself is completely unbelieving.”

Unknown: “What can I talk to you about? Do you think it’s possible to discuss all questions with an unbelieving person who is completely unknown to you?”

Spiritual mentor: “Talk about everything you find necessary.”

Unknown: “First of all, I would like to speak about immortality. Set me a time when you will be free?”

Spiritual mentor: “Talk now.”

Unknown: “I’m afraid that our conversation will drag on.”

Spiritual mentor: “Then we’ll continue it another time.”

Unknown: “All right. Just don’t demand that I be consistent. I’ll speak as I think when I’m alone…” ”

“Dialogues”, V.P. Sventsitsky