June 21, 2002

Irrelevant Arguments (Re: Christianity)
Iota

Tolkien was a Christian, and he didn't believe Christianity was just "a bunch of myths just like every other religion." That argument is entirely irrelevant. What you think of Christianity personally has very little to do with what was going through Tolkien's mind, what was embedded in his heart and what was coarsing through his veins when he wrote what he wrote. His belief was sincerely in Christianity and in Christ as the culmination of all mythology. He saw Christ's death and ressurection as a sort of validation of mythology. He said so much in his talks with C.S. Lewis, who later converted to Christianity as a result of Tolkien's vivid way of conveying why Christ as ultimate truth was not weakened any by the fact that dying god myths and ressurection myths had been around long before Christ was born. Tolkien instead held to the view that Christ brought all these loose ends together and authenticated them in a way by bringing them into our own history - into actual time and space. So whether you like or dislike Christianity, who cares? The subject is whether or not it influenced Tolkien as he wrote his works. Look at Strider. I don't think I've ever seen a more obvious Christ-figure. A rightful king living as a "ranger" and walking through the Paths Of The Dead to come into his kingdom. But even though you are bringing up arguments which are irrelevant, I will respond to one point that was raised. The absurd notion that Christianity is just like any other religion. Sure all religions have code and morals, very simular values and decorum. Christianity isn't the only one to offer an incarnated deity. It isn't the only theistic religion. But what it does offer that no other "religion", philosophy or worldview does is quite simple: absolute, unadulterated grace. No correct way of acting or behaving (although many unbiblical individuals try to make it appear as such)...the only moral code (The Law) exists in it ONLY to show us our incapability to live by it and our need for a savior. In essence, you don't get anyway in Christianity by acting nicely or being good. The religious folk of Jesus' day (pharisees) did that, and he called them a brood of vipers. It commands forgiveness, and by taking the emphasis off of what we do, the less inclined we are to imagine ourselves on some silly religious higher ground. Christianity makes us all equal by calling us all sinners in need of a savior. So name another savior in all religions, or any other that makes the claim that in order to attain salvation you must....do nothing, but believe in the actions of one who DID do something we couldn't.
But all of these discussions are irrelevant. Tolkien was a Christian and couldn't help writing like one. Can you seriously expect us to believe that his faith wasn't sincere?