September 4, 2002

Re: Tolkien Spinning... By Christian Hobbit
Peter D.

This in response to Christian Hobbits somewhat strange posting (in my opinion at least) of the 23 of August: Are you serious?
I admit i have not read every single posting in this forum, but I have not seen many that claimed that Tolkiens christian beliefs had no influence whatsoever on his writings, because clearly it had. Indeed most of the people who take part in this debate, seem to know full well that his religion shines through in his writings, but as a fundamental and above all underlying central theme, NOT with the main protagonists being direct versions of Jesus or other biblical characters. To say that Aragorn is Jesus represented in the books, can only be seen through extremely christian glasses i think; i.e you see what you WANT to see. If being King of Humans by definition makes him a figure of christ, then what about Isildur or Eärendil, or perhaps Gandalf - then they are Jesus too by those criteria, are they not?
If you like Tolkien quotations then what about:
he who breaks a thing to find out of what it is made, has left the path of wisdom. (Probably not word-perfect, but you get the idea i hope).

Are the book titles you refer to in your posting (quote:)..all I will give you....? Well lucky us, that we at least were given something.
You are sure you are not overdoing it a bit? Are non-christians the enemy, or are they just ungodly and wretched sinners that need to be saved. I am not a christian myself (nor of any other religion), but I have friends and family who are, and fully respect their personal religious beliefs, as they do mine.
"We" need to read more christian analyses of Tolkiens works? Well then maybe you need to read more Tolkien, and a little bit more objectively perhaps?