How True Crime Can Reveal God | Matt Walsh & Andrew Klavan Discuss

Published in 1866, 'Crime and Punishment' is a psychological novel set in St. Petersburg, Russia. It revolves around Rodion Raskolnikov, an impoverished and intellectually gifted former student who formulates a theory that some individuals are morally justified in committing crimes for the greater good of society. Raskolnikov puts this theory to the test by murdering an old pawnbroker and her half-sister, leading to a profound exploration of his psychological and emotional struggles with guilt, paranoia, and the consequences of his actions. The novel delves into socio-economic disparities, moral dilemmas, and the psychology of criminals, making it a classic of Russian literature and existential thought[2][4][5].

In 'The Kingdom of Cain', Andrew Klavan delves into the dark side of human nature to discover how one can find joy and beauty in a world filled with evil and suffering. The book looks at three murders in history, including Cain's killing of Abel, and analyzes the art created from these horrific events by artists such as Fyodor Dostoevsky and Alfred Hitchcock. Klavan argues that it is possible to be clear-eyed about the evil in the world while remaining hope-filled about God's ability to redeem it all. He emphasizes that making beauty out of a world shot through with evil and injustice is a task not just for artists but for every life rightly lived.