# Religious Perception as the Guide for Art in What Is Art?

> Theme guide for What Is Art? by Leo Tolstoy.

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.

## Where it surfaces

- [Chapter V: The Infection Theory of Art](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/what_is_art_se/chapters/v): Tolstoy argues that art transmitting feelings from religious perception has been given special importance, contrasting with modern art that only seeks pleasure.
- [Chapter VI: The Religious Basis of Art and Its Decline](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/what_is_art_se/chapters/vi): 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.
- [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/what_is_art_se/chapters/ix): 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.
- [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/what_is_art_se/chapters/xvi): Christian religious perception is the ultimate criterion for distinguishing good art from bad.
- [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/what_is_art_se/chapters/xviii): Tolstoy argues that the religious perception of the age—the union of mankind—must consciously guide art, replacing the false theory of beauty.
- [XX: The Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/what_is_art_se/chapters/xx-the-conclusion): He insists that art must be guided by the religious perception of the age, which is the consciousness of brotherhood.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/what_is_art_se/themes/religious_perception_as_guide
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/what_is_art_se/themes