Quote:
Originally Posted by Tar-Telperien
Well, what I was actually getting at is something that seems to be the "fundamental horrifying mystery of Ilúvatar's creatures". Why would Eru give the race that is least strong and understanding the tasks of healing and inheriting the Earth, and eventually singing the Second Music? Is not the race of Men utterly unqualified for such a thing, by being so weak, gullible, and quick to self-deception? This is one of the most disturbing ideas in the whole Legendarium to me. Why entrust something so deep, so important, so great with such a "foolish and wicked" race?
(...)
Yet again we are shown why estel is "a fool's hope": Eru seems to give the most grave tasks to those who have the least ability to fulfill them! In this we see a concept that is quite foreign to Christianity: namely that the hopes of other races and the wellbeing of Creation as a whole was depending on Men to do their utmost to help.
|
Thanks for this - with what you wrote, you made it clear to me. I understand now why it is like that.
In this we see a concept that is quite foreign to Christianity, you say. Actually, not: this is Christianity in its very definition. "Estel" as "fool's hope", I am pretty sure, is Tolkien's projection of the Christian hope to this secondary world.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1 Corinthians 1; 21-29
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.
|
Okay, just to make clear answer to the question which was raised. Let's continue with the primary subject of this topic.