Behold! Saruman of Many Colors

Tolkien's warning to us all about corruption + a "worldview journal"

Happy Friday friends. I am on the road today for some business, but I wanted to share this with you after this week’s earlier essay on The Lord of the Rings and Knowledge vs Wisdom. This video essay version goes a little deeper and adds a new layer to the article. Would love it if you checked this out!

One other thing for you all. I hope you’ll give it a try. Parker Settecase did a wonderful video about getting to know yourself better by journaling your worldview. He lays out an activity where you answer 7 key questions about the way you see the world and life itself. I’m doing it…and it’s really challenging and unsettling in a good way.

I might share what I wrote with you.

1. Is there a God?

   1. What is God’s nature? Is He/She/It a physical being or is God an essence or energy? Is God a singular figure?

2. What is truth?

   1. Does truth come from our senses or reason? Do Holy books hold the truth?

3. Where did the Universe come from and where is it going?

   1. Is it secure based on a Creator’s will or is it subject to chaos and random destruction?

4. What is Human Nature?

   1. Are people mostly good or mostly bad? Try to draw out the source of the belief and why you believe that? Are Human Beings special? Are we qualitatively different than animals, on a spectrum with animals? Why? Do we have Free Will?

5. What is the meaning of life?

   1. Why do I believe this? Does my life have a purpose and do I decide this or is it a pre-existing thing to be discovered?

6. What does it mean to live a good life?

   1. What is the good life? What can I do to make my life better and more in keeping with the Good Life

7. What is wrong with the world and is there hope?