Final answer:
The central ideas of the passage about Rasputin are his ability to stop Alexei's bleeding and his philosophy of engaging in sexual orgies and debauchery.
Step-by-step explanation:
The central ideas of the passage about Rasputin are:
- Rasputin's ability to stop Alexei's bleeding led the Tsarina to believe he was sent by God to protect the royal family. Despite being illiterate and coming from a peasant background, Rasputin became a powerful influence in the Tsar's family.
- Rasputin's philosophy included engaging in sexual orgies and debauchery as a way to be closest to God. This unconventional lifestyle was part of what made Rasputin such a peculiar figure in history.