Oath taking references include Feanor in the Silmarillion, Merry, Pippin (to
their respective 'lords') Gollum, swearing on the ring to obey Frodo, and
not to let 'him' get the ring, The Paths of the dead (definitely not a great
thing, as the warriors promised things that they could not fulfill), and the
Rohirim (whom Tolkien does not comment about the stupidity or the nobility of
their oaths). Certainly Feanor is considered unwise, whereas Galadriel,
who does not take Feanor's oath, is considered wise. Throughout the
Silmarillion oaths conflict etc. Read James 5:12, which says "Above
all, my brothers, do not swear - not by heaven or by earth or by anything
else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "no," no, or you will be
condemned". Heroism comes from the action, not the promise. What
James is saying is "just do it" in a sense, instead of swearing an oath you
cannot or should not
keep.
