From Father to Son--J.R.R. Tolkien on Sex

The Christian Post ^ | February 4, 2005 | R. Albert Mohler, Jr.

[MadIvan]

One of the greatest gifts I received as a boy was a copy of "The Hobbit". It becomes ever more clear why that was a positive, nuturing work of fiction.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Ping!

[SkyPilot]

Hair,

Here ya go--two of our favorite topics.

[AmericanChef]

Indeed, free and unlimited sex has burdened us with abortion, single parenting, disease, and homosexual marriage; more side effects of welfare, divorce, a general selfishness, and most importantly the devils after our christian history and the war against religion going on in our country.

Basically, the morals of our country have gone to hell because people can't keep their clothes on.

[Happygal]

Never date an Orc! That's what I say! ;-)

[familyop]

Young men:

Don't have sex, don't date, and don't marry. In the current social climate, any of those actions are likely to have the same outcome.

[ovrtaxt]

lol! I never dated an orcess, but I woke up next to a few...*rimshot!*

[ovrtaxt]

Thanks for posting this. Tolkein was, for me as well, an early standard-setter. As I get older, I realize how much he and Lewis influenced me morally before I even was aware of it.

[Siamese Princess]

Indeed, free and unlimited sex has burdened us with abortion, single parenting, disease, and homosexual marriage; more side effects of welfare, divorce, a general selfishness, and most importantly the devils after our christian history and the war against religion going on in our country.

Basically, the morals of our country have gone to hell because people can't keep their clothes on.

Not just sexual morality, but morality in general has gone down the toilet progressively through the 20th century. You can't separate the two. A society with low sexual morality is a society with low morality, period. The same is usually true of individuals, as well. An extreme example is Bill Clinton.

[RaceBannon]

People need to understand that this is what abortion is about.

It is not about killing babies, it is about letting people get away with sin.

[billorites]

[DainBramage]

"Lust is persistent. If it has knocked on your door once, it will knock again. And again. You are safe just so long as you draw upon your Savior's strength.

Try to handle it yourself and you'll lose -- every time. This is why we are warned again and again in the New Testament to flee sexual temptations (1 Corinthians 6:18).

Remember, lust is committed to wage war against your soul -- in a life-and-death struggle, in hand-to-hand combat. Don't stand before this mortal enemy and argue or fight in your own strength. Run for cover. Cry out for reinforcement. Call in an air strike.

If you get yourself into a situation that leaves you defenseless and weak, if your door is left even slightly ajar, you may be sure that this ancient enemy will kick it open with six-guns blazing. So don't leave it open.

Don't give lust a foothold .. or even a toehold." --

Victory Over Temptation, Bruce Wilkinson, (Charles Swindoll), page 218..

[anniegetyourgun]

"Romantic love is not sufficient as a justification for sex..."

This statement couldn't be more stunning to people in our day. In part, because sex has become a justification for sex - never mind the romantic love.

[dyed_in_the_wool]

It's funny but the wife and I just watched ROTK last night (I just reread the trilogy last week and am reading the Silmarillion - again - right now).

But I kept thinking how fey all of the actors seemed. I mean, I know Tolkien's language was flowery, but these actors, outside of Rhees Davies, all seemed a little too genteel. I really don't think Viggo could've pulled off the Path of the Dead the way it was written.

[billorites]

There's plenty for purists to find fault with in the LOTR movies. Not just in characterization, but in choices made by the director.

I still can't imagine a better version having been made though. I'd love to see a feature length Hobbit in live action. That book really caught my imagination when I was 11-12 years old.

[Aquinasfan]

Good people make good writers and philosophers. Bad people make bad writers and philosophers. There seem to be few exceptions.

[LadyDoc]

Thank you.

I only bought the books of his letters last year, because I figured it would be boring and technical. But I was impressed with the many discussing religious themes in the books, and how he mentions going to mass or other religious things that are obviously deep in his soul.

When he discusses marriage, he seems to speak from experience...you know, he often tutored women, because he was married, and the women could visit him without a chaparone (since Edith was in the house). One wonders if the Eowyn character is a combination of his students, seeking the freedom of men instead of being in a cage...and the Ransom character in Out of the Silent planet is partly based on Tolkien --I always wonder if Ransom playing with the Martian children shows his relationship with his children...alas, outside of his letters, there are few portraits of the personality of this humble and quiet man.

And I was impressed that the movie, which ignored the theme of the lembas bread (as communion) brought out the theme of the holy intercessors of Arwen and Galadriel, who sit at home doing "nothing" but are obviously intervening to encourage those doing the action...

[Osage Orange]

It is not about killing babies, it is about letting people get away with sin.

Well....no, I disagree, it IS about killing babies. And nobody get's away with sin.

Frankly I think many women are forever mentally tortured for having abortions...I cannot imagine the pain that must cause some of them. My heart hurts for them....

FRegards,

[q_an_a]

Tolkien had a big influence onhis friend CS Lewis. That may be the second greatest gift to the world by this holy man. Thanks for your psot of this, it would have been hard for others - in America - to find.

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

Catholic Ping!!