The Internet has been buzzing about a recent interview with comedian Stephen Colbert and CNN’s Anderson Cooper. In it, Cooper asks Colbert, “You went on to say, ‘What punishments of God are not gifts?’ Do you really believe that?”
Colbert responds by saying, “It’s a gift to exist and with existence comes suffering. There’s no escaping that.” He also explains that the quotation was derived from Catholic author J.R.R. Tolkien.
Where exactly did Colbert get the idea that death could be a gift?
Tolkien explains in a Genesis-type narrative (later published as the Silmarillion) how death is a gift, when compared to the earthly immortality that the Elves possess.
“The doom of the Elves is to be immortal, to love the beauty of the world, to bring it to full flower with their gifts of delicacy and perfection, to last while it lasts, never leaving it even when ‘slain’, but returning – and yet, when the Followers come, to teach them, and make way for them, to ‘fade’ as the Followers grow and absorb the life from which both proceed. The Doom (or the Gift) of Men is mortality, freedom from the circles of the world.”
In one sense death is seen in Tolkien’s mythology as a “way out” of the suffering of this present world.
However, that is only part of the story.
Death is more positively, the gateway to Eternal Life, and the evil characters in Tolkien’s mythology seek to twist it, teaching men to fear it and try to grasp earthly immortality.
“Melkor has cast his shadow upon [death], and confounded it with darkness, and brought forth evil out of good, and fear out of hope.”
What Tolkien is explaining in this passage is how Melkor (similar to Satan) sought to shroud death in darkness, making it appear to be a curse instead of a “gift.” Since death was one of the greatest “gifts” given to Men, Melkor sought to twist it and confound Iluvatar’s (an image of God the Father) plan.
Along with his tendency to be a “deceiver,” Melkor was able to convince Men (through his servant Sauron) of their need to seek after earthly immortality. Sauron taught Men to forsake the “gift” they were given and to seek the “Undying Lands” (where the Valar dwell) to have everlasting life in Middle-Earth.
Fear of death can be a distraction
Melkor is similar to Satan, who was “‘[a] murderer from the beginning, . . . a liar and the father of lies,’…’the deceiver of the whole world'”(CCC 2852). Both Melkor and Satan desire to deceive Men and sow discord in God’s plan. In the Garden of Eden, Satan lied to Eve and said in regards to eating the fruit of the Tree, “You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4).
Thus, in the beginning “It was through the devil’s envy that death entered the world” (Wis 2:24). Fear of death, then, is partly a product of Satan, who wishes to lead us (the highly favored Children of God) astray. He uses it as a distraction, making us desire immortality on this earth and convincing us that we can attain it if we just eat the right “fruit” which will grant us power over death.
Slaves of Melkor or Children of Iluvatar
Thus, if we lead lives fearing death, we can become Satan’s subjects and are ruled by his deceits. It is true that fear is not always a bad thing, for it makes us fear for the destination of our soul. Yet, this fear is imperfect and should always give way to an embrace of hope; hope for eternal life. Additionally, the fear that Melkor proposes is one that makes us fear death because it takes us away from this world, where he is the master. In his eyes, if we embrace death we are freed from his slavery and he has no power over us.
In the end, death can be seen as a gift that sends us on our last journey (hopefully) to the beautiful shores of Heaven outside of this world. This positive view of death can change our whole life and instead of viewing ourselves like slaves to an evil fate, we become heirs to a Kingdom.
What do you think? Can death be considered a Gift of God?
Philip Kosloski
Philip Kosloski is the founder of Voyage Comics & Publishing and the writer and creator of the comic book series, Finnian and the Seven Mountains.