July 8, 2002

Tolkien & Religion
Hanna

See, it is obvious that there's no religion at all in Tolkien work, and yet there is a true faith about his "subcreation". Remember the Ainulindalë? The Ainur weren't Gods but Angels, as you correctly point, Colin, and still they had a certain power to create, or to make is better said. Tolkien himself is an Ainu, for he made a world that had its uttermost in the imagination (or the music, in the Ainur case) The One gave him. In that, you see, Tolkien keeps close to his faith.

And you were saying that in his work, or among his "children", were not need of faith ? Actually, I think there is a faith among them. Not among Elves, I agree. But the Edain had never seen any Ainu but Morgoth, until Tuor met Ulmo. What I try to tell is that in every true work of any kind, there wil be a need of faith, for there are many things, even in imagination, that cannot be fully understand without it.