Analysis of the Inquisitor's Argument in The Brothers KaramazovDostoyevsky presents a strong case against Jesus in "The Grand Inquisitor": Jesus did not love humanity enough to care about the greater good of the race. The majority of people, according to the Grand Inquisitor, are weak and “like sheep.” Jesus placed paramount importance on freedom of faith, and because he cared more about this freedom than the happiness of people, the Grand Inquisitor and the Catholic Church, led by the Inquisitor, reject Jesus. Only the strong, like the Inquisitor, who can "spend forty days and forty nights in the desert", are capable of achieving the reward of Heaven, while the millions of weak, "who are weak but who love you when even... must exist forever.” for the sake of the strong." The Inquisitor states that the reason the weak cannot take the narrow path to Heaven is because they are afraid of freedom, that "they can never be free." Trent Reznor of the musical group Nine Inch Nails summed up the Inquisitor's view of humanity in "Happiness In Slavery". In the second verse, Reznor sings: "The slave screams But he's happy to be chained to!" this wall!” The central argument made by the Grand Inquisitor involves the temptation of Jesus by the Devil in a desert. Satan presents Jesus with three temptations, each of which would improve the man's earthly lot but diminish his freedom, and Jesus them. rejects each. First, Satan says, “You must be hungry, turn these stones into bread, and feed yourself and the people.” Jesus said, “Man does not live by earthly bread alone.” appease his hunger: by performing a miracle, he would have diminished man's freedom of faith. Satan was asking the same question, on behalf of humanity, that Jame...... middle of paper ......e more harmful than any vice ("sin") is "active pity for all failures and all the weak: Christianity." An interesting test of the Inquisitor's view of liberty will take place on the next election day Our state senator, along with many others, say that "we. "We need more restrictive laws to combat crime in our neighborhoods" and that new laws "will assist our law enforcement officials...in their efforts to control the pornography industry." I don't intend to argue the pros or cons of more restrictive pornography laws, but one thing is certain: these laws will limit Americans' freedom of speech. Americans will give up some freedom in exchange. a possible reward in a reduction in crime? I think Dostoyevsky's Grand Inquisitor would be interested in finding out.ReferencesDostoyevsky, Fyodor. The Karamazov brothers. Trans. Andrew MacAndrew. New York: bantam, 1981.