10 Commandments for Middle-Earth? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Bekah · 04-27-2003, 06:38 PM

Yeah. There are Biblical analogies, though I'm sure Tolkien didn't do them intentionally. His faith, however, was such a big part of him that they probably slipped out anyway.

Thank you. I like discussing this, because so far no one has flamed up about it. Well, that's one of the reasons... [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Another is that I happen to be Christian and it's interesting discussing something like this with people of diverse opinions.

~ Elentari II

mark12_30 · 12-07-2004, 02:04 PM

up.

Man of the Old Hope · 12-12-2004, 06:43 PM

As was previously pointed out, the Ten Commandments (the Decalogue) have not yet been given because the First through the Fourth Ages of Arda constitute a mythical time before our historical time, and the Decalogue is firmly planted in historical time.

But to a large degree, the question and the responses miss the point of the Decalogue. We do not have in the Ten Commandments a universal moral code for humanity (however well such commands as "You shall not commit murder" and "You shall not commit adultery" work for creating stable human societies). The ancient world was replete with moral codes, usually promulgated by kings or philosopher-scholars (see, for example, the Code of Hammurabi). The Ten Commandments constitute part of what is understood to be God's revelation to and covenant with a particular people: the Jews. However "useful" they may be as a "moral code", the Ten Commandments cannot be abstracted from their context; i.e., the Torah.

The particularity of the Decalogue is noted right from the introduction of the Commandments, in Exodus 20:

"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me."

There is no people in the First, Second, Third or Fourth Ages of Arda who have been so brought out of the slavery of Egypt.

04-27-2003, 06:38 PM	#1
Bekah Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Several miles over the madness horizon and accelerating Posts: 431	Yeah. There are Biblical analogies, though I'm sure Tolkien didn't do them intentionally. His faith, however, was such a big part of him that they probably slipped out anyway. Thank you. I like discussing this, because so far no one has flamed up about it. Well, that's one of the reasons... [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] Another is that I happen to be Christian and it's interesting discussing something like this with people of diverse opinions. ~ Elentari II __________________ Vocatus Atque Non Vocatus Deus Aderit ------------~~~~~~~~~~~~~------------ A laita Atar, ar Yondo, ar Ainasule. Ve nes i yessesse na sin, ar yeva tennoio. Nasie.

12-07-2004, 02:04 PM	#2
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	up. __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.

12-12-2004, 06:43 PM	#3
Man of the Old Hope Pile O'Bones Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Beleriand Posts: 21	As was previously pointed out, the Ten Commandments (the Decalogue) have not yet been given because the First through the Fourth Ages of Arda constitute a mythical time before our historical time, and the Decalogue is firmly planted in historical time. But to a large degree, the question and the responses miss the point of the Decalogue. We do not have in the Ten Commandments a universal moral code for humanity (however well such commands as "You shall not commit murder" and "You shall not commit adultery" work for creating stable human societies). The ancient world was replete with moral codes, usually promulgated by kings or philosopher-scholars (see, for example, the Code of Hammurabi). The Ten Commandments constitute part of what is understood to be God's revelation to and covenant with a particular people: the Jews. However "useful" they may be as a "moral code", the Ten Commandments cannot be abstracted from their context; i.e., the Torah. The particularity of the Decalogue is noted right from the introduction of the Commandments, in Exodus 20: "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me." There is no people in the First, Second, Third or Fourth Ages of Arda who have been so brought out of the slavery of Egypt. __________________ 'They say,' answered Andreth: 'they say that the One will himself enter into Arda, and heal Men and all the Marring from the beginning to the end.'

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