June 27, 2002

Lotr and Christianity Again
Matt

I agree completely with Dave M.

I am not saying that the LOTR is a christian allegory. It is far from it. Rather, the stories focus and themes are based off of his religion. Some like to argue this fact and say that it is not because Tolkien removed all references to religion in his books.

But they are missing the point. Tolkien did this precisely so that his books could reach a larger audience. Agnostics and atheists can read this and find meaning so long as they subsribe to the idea that there is an absolute good and evil.

A lot of people try and say that this is an allegory but they confuse allegory with applicability (Tolkien's foward to the paperback edition.) The LOTR can be applied to a lot of thing, but that does not make it an allegory. An Allegory is a direct one-to one relationship between a character and a person, place, or thing.

I also agree with a previous commentator who provided a dead on analysis on religion and wars. Most wars are not caused by religion, but by land grabs and power grabs. This is exactly what happens throughout middle earth. The war of the ring is a war thatwas started when Sauron attempted to grab power over middle earth.

Most wars are not started over relgion. Yes some people can pervert religion as a propaganda tool to convince people to fight for their cause. But this should not (rather cannot) be used as an excuse to be an atheist.

Atheism and theism are tough positions to take and require long and hard thought. Just because religion has been perverted by a fallen man in the past does not mean that God himself is not there.

It is only by the grace of God that we can be saved. (Yes I agree with that). But God also gives us free will on whether or not we choose to be saved. Just because some wackos (Bin Laden, etc.) turn away from God and choose evil in the name of him does not mean that God does not exist. To claim such a thing (atheism) needs more proof.


Like the discussion (especially the tone)

Matt