Same old story: Not much to say. Hearts are broken every day.

Dostoevsky's The Possessed:

"The elites of the provincial community initially find the radicals fashionable and charming..."

The censored chapter: "Stavrogin's confession of having molested a 10 year old girl, causing the girl to commit suicide. The chapter gives insight into the reason that Stavrogin later hangs himself, out of apparent sociopathic apathy towards his own life. Stavrogin is depicted as the embodiment of nihilism, being apathetic, lacking empathy, devoid of emotion."

Really? Apathy? I cannot fathom that sort of emotion in relation to these deeds. I get that this was a sociopathic apathy, but even so, there must be some sort of feeling towards his actions. Dostoevsky wrote this book on the basis of his theory of human political reality. The reality of power. This kind of power is unjust and irrational. Which is why Nietzsche remains my constant, his perspective was that he treated religion as tyrannical and as the basis for mankind's suffering. In this time, how couldn't you agree? Look at the suffering of this ten year old girl.

Another's impression is as such:

"Here Dostovesky's analysis is not to deal or honestly reflect the human condition (as in his other "existentialist" novels) but rather to portray the reality of power, mankind's desire to manifest its will and obtain power. Dostoevsky defines evil here as the passion for power and control, showing that reason and logic are a ruse to justify rebellion against existence."

How can you wrestle with faith and doubt without ever being able to separate the two? I wish I could succeed in the way both "Nietzsche and Dostoevsky fail in varying degrees to give a concrete goal to man".

Every single day, I remember, or hear of ways, man has failed to reach a goal I feel should be concrete and part of every day morality. And every single day, I wonder how this can be. I am not religious. I am not perfect. However, I have a moral standard that not everyone can understand, that other people don't abide by. Is it that difficult? Don't knowingly do things that hurt another human being. That's all. Obviously, there are standards that apply professionally, but this is not what I am talking about. Is it too much to ask that when you make a decision, you make one that doesn't knowingly hurt someone else? I don't care if you know them or not, I don't care the situation, no one deserves to be hurt intentionally if they've never hurt you. I won't even get into the treatment of children.

Morality is at stake here, and I feel as if I'm a lone soldier waving a flag. I honestly have little shame. Little fear about what people think of me, but I will say, I would NEVER intentionally or knowingly hurt someone, and I feel sorry for anyone who can, or does. Even if it does get them ahead, or allows them to achieve their shallow goals. In the long run, I know that I, and many others, stood fast in what they believed in, what they loved, and that means more than your shallow victory ever will.