People of mercy: theological laicity in The Brothers Karamazov

Abstract

The depth of the understanding of reality that emerges from the work of Fyodor Dostoevsky is simply ineffable. The divine and human is continuously recalled in his narrative plots and in the development of his characters. This is why various theologians have considered the great Russian writer an exceptional interlocutor. The object of this work is the understanding of the people found in his writings, already masterfully studied by Romano Guardini. We seek here to consider it through two fundamental theological lenses: mercy and laicity. The thesis proposed is a presentation of the Christian mystery that places at the centre the idea that the mercy of the Father makes the very constitution of the people possible. In fact, if the relational openness of God is unconditional, then even the weak person and sinner can be a member of His people. Theologically (and etymologically), laicity is connected precisely to laos, that is, to a relational identity that is not marked by a categorical differentiation.

Keywords

• Dostoyevsky
• literature
• mercy
• laicity
• theology of the people
• brothers Karamazov