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Religion is found throughout the world, varying by culture, history, and ethnicity. Within different religions there are contrasting beliefs that people hold for different aspects of one’s given faith. Crime and Punishment, written by Fyodor Dostoevsky in the 1800s, is a novel describing the internal battle that the main character, Raskolnikov, experiences after committing two murders. His religious values are influenced by the various characters he encounters, often paralleled as Biblical figures, and their beliefs about the road to take in order to reach salvation. He meets a man who believes suffering will bring atonement for his sins, a woman who chooses to take the moral high road, and notices for the first time a relative’s belief in self-sacrifice and love. Through his interactions with orthodox Christians differ on certain religious views, and those who choose to reject religion altogether, Raskolnikov learns of the true gateway to heaven and that the basic purpose of religion is to give hope. Throughout Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov struggles with his conscious and feelings of guilt as he travels on the road to eventual redemption through the love of another and acceptance of his guilt. Several religious beliefs regarding redemption in Christianity are displayed throughout Crime and Punishment to show that the true way to redemption is through love for others. Some believe that redemption is achieved through suffering and can lead to hope for a better future. At the beginning of Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov encounters a drunk named Marmeladov who used his money to buy drinks instead of taking care of his family. His argument is that God will erase the many sins he has committed, such as not taking care of his family and not doing anything to keep his young daughter out of prostitution. He stated that God would forgive his sins due to his personal conviction that “[he] hast loved much.
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