Re: Ill use of power -- Adilbrand Noblesword's Hall of Warriors

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Date Posted: 17:13:13 10/11/02 Fri
Author: Mt. Healthy Mountaineer
Subject: Re: Ill use of power
In reply to: mvd 's message, "Ill use of power" on 11:28:10 10/11/02 Fri

Warning - rambling thoughts ahead posted on a Friday afternoon after a long week:

I thought the LOTR movie did an absolutely marvelous job of exploring this very theme: the temptations involved in absolute power. So much so that my wife and I had our own little "Jr. philosophy class" going over for several days after we saw the movie. Of course, this is the same theme involved in Star Wars: Episode 2, just not so blatant.

Adilbrand: Is humanity programmed to self destruct in this manner?

Although I am dipping my toes into forbidden waters, I would say, "Yes." From my point of view, it is mankind's sinful nature that we've discussed in the past. Great power, in the hands of one, or a few, is dangerous only because we are selfish - we are quick to take away the rights of others because they inconvenience us. We are quick and all-too-willing to stifle everyone else for their own good.

Before we discussed Christian themes in Tolkein's work and I mentioned that they were hard to find - so much so that I didn't even see them. Having watched the movie with those themes you mentioned in mind I was struck by thoughts that the ring is much like the temptations offered by Satan to Christ in the wilderness, especially the last one in which he offers the world. This corresponds well with the Elf woman (sorry, I don't remember her name - I am more into themes rather than names) who nearly takes the ring when Frodo offers it to her - but she sees that, although she would be able to do a lot of good things with it, in the end she would fall short of her goals because of the corruption of power - everyone would hate her because they would be ceding their power to her. And, in the end, she would be corrupted.

Adilbrand: It seems to me (and I am not saying I am for or against anything) that Bush's war is of the Sauronic nature. He wields great power and in some strange sense great power demands to be used.

Although I don't think that Bush is as power-hungry as Sauron and I'm really not concerned with most of his activities (but I am with some and I am currently writing something related to the war on terrorism out on paper and it should be posted fairly soon), you are absolutely right - great power demands to be used - at least from our selfish points of view. How many people have said that they hate God because He allows suffering - he has great power, why isn't he using it? Perhaps, it is because if he acts, he is taking away our power and our responsibility to deal with it ourselves.

Oh well, on to the weekend...

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Replies:

First of all, I am not Adilbrand. ;) -- mvd, 18:18:45 10/11/02 Fri
- Well, I said it had been a long week... -- Mt. Healthy Mountaineer, 03:45:33 10/12/02 Sat
  - I agree -- mvd, 10:21:37 10/12/02 Sat
    - Re: I agree -- Mt. Healthy Mountaineer, 08:24:32 10/14/02 Mon
      - I disagree -- BAD, 20:45:55 10/14/02 Mon
- Use or Lose it! -- BAD, 20:40:34 10/14/02 Mon
  - Re: Use or Lose it! -- Mt. Healthy Mountaineer, 01:36:55 10/19/02 Sat
    - Re: Use or Lose it! -- BAD, 17:11:46 10/20/02 Sun
      - Re: Use or Lose it! -- mt. healthy mountaineer, 22:11:16 10/20/02 Sun