[davem]

Originally Posted by Essex

Can someone point out to me the part of the book after the Ring is destroyed where we see Frodo feeling guilty...........

'There is no real going back, though I may come to the Shire it will not be the same, for I am not the same'

Isn't that passing sentence on the guilty? He has denied himself his home. He has proclaimed himself an exile.

Whoops. I'll let my priest know on Sunday that I'm not bothering to go to Church as there's no point then!!!!

But how can you save yourself? If salvation comes from God through Christ's sacrifice then that's impossible. You can only through your acts make yourself worthy of salvation (though many Christians would argue that there is nothing you as an individual fallen being can do to raise yourself up. I think the belief that you can is Arianism.

Originally Posted by H-I

The argument, sorry davem, is lopsided. If it were entirely true (i.e. logic as follows - our acts can not bring our salvation = no need to act), there would be no point for Frodo to go anywhere at all, all acts being useless unless salvation came from outside (or inside - i.e. externally strenghtening his inner self, or will).

The point for Frodo to go is that it was willed by Eru that he go. A servant does what his master tells him because that's his job. If his master chooses to reward him that's his choice. The servant cannot make his master reward him, or the servant would be the 'master'. A good person will do good not because he desires a reward, but because as a good person its his nature to do good. Thoughts of rewards should not come into it. Frodo does what he does not in order to get the reward of passing onto the West.

And why shouldn't Frodo feel guilt over his choice? A free person is resonsible. Frodo's choice must be a free one, hence he is responsible for it, & so he is guilty. If he did not make his choice to surrender freely then the events at the Sammath Naur are meaningless. If he did make a free choice then he is guilty.