# Critique of Christianity in Sanine

> Theme guide for Sanine by Mikhail Artsybashev.

Sanine directly attacks Christianity as a force that suppresses revolt and individuality, promoting passive suffering and hypocrisy, which he sees as harmful to human vitality and freedom.

## Where it surfaces

- [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/x): The priest's platitudes and Semenoff's final insult ('Silly old fool!') critique the inadequacy of religious consolation in the face of death.
- [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xii): Sanine questions the human conception of God, calling it idolatrous, and dismisses traditional religious frameworks for understanding life and death.
- [Chapter XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xxiv): Central to the chapter: Yourii and Sanine both argue that Christianity is obsolete, hypocritical, and has historically suppressed human vitality and revolt.
- [Chapter XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xxix): Sanine mocks Von Deitz for claiming to be a disciple of Tolstoy while participating in the dueling ritual, highlighting the hypocrisy of religious moralizing.
- [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xxxii): Sanine critiques Christian doctrine as a lifeless dogma, contrasting the sincerity of Lande with the failure of his followers.
- [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xxxiv): Yourii's anguished questioning of God and theodicy ('What has man done to thee that thou shouldst mock him thus?') critiques religious faith.
- [XXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/chapters/xxxvi): Yourii attends church without faith, observing the rituals and worshippers with a detached, ironic perspective, yet he prays for Sina's love.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/themes/critique_of_christianity
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sanine_se/themes