Printed by: Sventsitsky V., prot. Dialogues: Sermons, Articles, Letters. S. V. Chertkov. Moscow, St. Tikhon's Orthodox University Publ., 2010. Pp. 49-386.

DIALOGUE ONE

ABOUT IMMORTALITY

Unknown. I have not come to you to confess. I just need to talk to you, but maybe it's impossible?

Confessor. Why?

Unknown. Yes, you see, I want to talk about faith, but the man himself is completely unbelieving.

Confessor. Why talk to me, then?

Unknown. Will you allow me to answer this question frankly?

Confessor. Yes.

Unknown. Not only do I not believe, I cannot even imagine how it is possible to believe in the present state of science. I want to understand: what, after all, is behind the beliefs of educated people who cannot be considered notorious deceivers? I've decided, if you don't refuse, to talk to you privately and, so to speak, frankly -- what's the matter?

Confessor. I have no doubt about the truth of my faith and I am ready to defend it.

Unknown. Well done. But here's another thing: what I can talk to you about. Do you consider it possible to discuss all questions with a person who is not a believer and completely unknown to you?

Confessor. Talk about everything you find necessary.

Unknown. First of all, I would like to talk about immortality. Give me a time when you will be free?

Confessor. Speak now.

Unknown. I'm afraid that our conversation will drag on.

Confessor. Then we'll continue it another time.

Unknown. Ok. Just don't demand consistency from me. I will speak as I think when I am alone...

Immortality? What's it? Life after death. Who will live? Someone or something in me that will not be destroyed after the destruction of my body. If I am thrown into the fire, a handful of ashes will remain of my body -- brain, heart, bones. And for some reason I have to believe that I will continue to exist somewhere. What are the grounds for this belief? Is it not a simple desire to live forever and a fear of annihilation? My mind refuses to imagine any existence without a material basis. I cannot regard man as a visible case in which an invisible soul is placed. The case broke. It can be burned, and the soul can be taken out and put in another place. And what does this other place mean? Will it take up some space? Or this mysterious, immortal soul is not only invisible, but also "spaceless". What is it? To me, she's utter nonsense. And what grounds can make my mind "believe" in this nonsense? I will stop here for now.

Confessor. Before answering your question: "What are the grounds for this belief?", let us try to consider whether this is such "absolute nonsense" for your mind as it seems at first glance. Take a purely physical area. The thrown stone falls to the ground. Everyone sees it. And everyone knows that the reason for the fall of the stone is the attraction of the Earth. But no one sees this force, called attraction.

Unknown. What does power have to do with the soul? In order for the force to act, a material environment is needed. And you believe that the soul can exist without a body, that is, without any material environment.