What is temptation?
temptation is not sin
what was it like to share your temptations?
looking back they seem silly/not that important
it takes something from your heart
James-temptations based on our own lust
still hard to share temptation
still equating with sin
if we could confess temptations and have accountability-then it could lose it’s power
what is temptation?
opportunity to gratify self
opportunity to do something that you know is wrong
match a desire (James)
in the book, for power
justification of temptation is where it leads to sin
the tempter comes in with lies
temptation from the book
Boromir
believed that he could master the ring-didn’t believe the truth about it
looking at history
Kings of Israel
What is Tolkien’s perspective on temptation
some characters are able to withstand the temptation
Gandalf, Aragorn, Elrond, Galadriel
these characters had deep self-awareness
knows their weaknesses
Faramir
not aspiring
accepting place in the greater scheme of life
proper response to temptation
flee, admit weakness
Evil-how does it effect each person
treating the ring as evil
Gollum-murder, mastered him, rules over him, transforms into a grotesque creature
Frodo-starting to feel the physical oppression of the ring, distrust of others/paranoia, hard to resist being exposed
Courage
once there is evil and temptation, then there is courage
Sam-has a lot of courage-saved the day-took great risks for the benefit of others
definition of courage (after discussing Sam) – decision, taking risks to benefit others, there is a cost, something that is more important than evil, doing the right thing, hope factors into courage, requires leadership
Frodo-what does he have to risk?
life, inheritance, the Shire,
Aragorn-what is he risking?
life, Kingship, revelation of being a King
what effect does courage have on others-contagious, leadership
what do others in your fellowship need from you?
everyone is tempted
everyone has fallen into justification
leadership sometimes comes from the side
Recap of discussions from the other groups:
Hobbits:
What would we do if a friend fell to temptation? pattern of Matthew
Lying is usually a part of covering up your fall from temptation
good can be corrupted into evil and/or passivity can allow good to become evil
More to the characters than black or white good/evil
Good characters are able to withstand temptation
Courage-Samwise had to have courage to go on alone after Frodo appears to be dead
Giving into the temptation might look good for awhile, but ultimately will lead to evil
Encouragement-bringing out courage in others
Ents:
pathway of temptation to evil to destruction
pathway of courage-might not be able to see the end result
discussion of, “Is taking care of oneself evil?” ex. the Ents
Is apathy/passivity evil? discussion of good/evil of characters
Evil characters are 100% evil
Good characters are 100% good, but are vulnerable to temptation and evil
Is it possible to be good and evil at the same time