October 16, 2002

Response to Quirk
Wandering Wizard

Quirk, I was reluctant to read your long-winded article on religion, yet for some odd reason I did.

You stated: "And Tolkien was a Catholic, and a fairly religious man...so religion is fair game."

Yet a little while later you stated: "And besides that, this is not a place for religious debate."

I have a hard time pinpointing what your intent was in submitting that article unless it was to offend a few (if not many) people who come to this website.

Let me say this: people can submit whatever they want in this forum. If it gets posted, then obviously it is 'fair game' as you call it.

It is a place for opinions. I don't think there are any rules to what gets posted. Or how, or when, or even why. We are responsible for our own words, and so far the only thing that will keep an article from being posted is bad grammar and lewd comments.

And just so you know, religion is an opinion. That's all it is. I have an opinion of what I beleive, just as I have an opinion of what is good for me, or bad.

Your article was done in poor taste, (in my opinion) as was Christian Hobbit's article, in the sense that you are expressing your own opinion about other people's religions (you seemed to go off on the LDS). What does your opinion of Hinduism, Bhuddism, or LDS have to do with LOTR? Have you really studied it that closely? If so, does that mean you or C.H. should go around telling people what you think of it?

Also simply by stating that I'm 'this' denomination or 'that' denomination does not constitute preaching. The only reason I happened to state that I was LDS was to justify my reply to C.H. and perhaps voice what someone else might be thinking after his/her rude remarks on their religions. I haven't seen anyone preach yet (thank goodness).

All in all, it's your decision. Post what you will. I'd prefer that we stick to the upcoming movies in this forum. They are much more exciting anyway.