Religious Perception as the Guide for Art

The author asserts that true art must be guided by the highest religious perception of its time, which in the modern era is the ideal of universal brotherhood and unity, rather than by doctrines of any particular church.

Tolstoy argues that art transmitting feelings from religious perception has been given special importance, contrasting with modern art that only seeks pleasure.

Tolstoy argues that throughout history, the value of art has been determined by the religious conception of what is good and evil in a society.

He asserts that only art based on religious perception can transmit fresh, new feelings, and that the upper classes' lack of belief has impoverished art's subject-matter.

Christian religious perception is the ultimate criterion for distinguishing good art from bad.