Sorry, but The Lord of the Rings is not a Christian book. (tradition, myths)

Faint · #1 01-27-2006, 06:10 PM

In response to another post (and a request for a debate), I am backing up my statement that Tolkien did not intend to write LotR as a Christian allegory. Here's why:

"Tolkien had a deep desire to write a mythology for England, especially after his horrific experiences during the First World War. Thus to understand his writings we must be aware of how Tolkien the scholar influences Tolkien the author. The writer of this mythology emerges as an Oxford philologist well acquainted with Northern European Medieval Literature including the great mythic works such as the Hervarar saga, the Völsunga saga, the influential Beowulf as well as other Old Norse, Old and Middle English Texts. He was also inspired by non-Germanic works such as the Finnish epic Kalevala. A man who had created his own language by the age of seven, he was driven by a desire to write a mythology for England influenced by his exposure and expertise of these ancient traditions. The need for such a myth was often a topic of conversation in his meetings with the Inklings, fellow Oxford scholars who have been described as Christian Romantics, meeting weekly and discussing Icelandic myths and their own unpublished compositions. Tolkien agreed with one of the other members of the group, C.S. Lewis, that if there were no adequate myths for England then they would have to write their own. Tolkien's work has been commonly interpreted in this light."

(from wikipedia)

So there.

Bishka · #2 01-27-2006, 06:12 PM

Yay. I'd give you frubals, but I gave mine all out today. I'll give you some as soon as I get some more.

Faint · #3 01-27-2006, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beckysoup61

Yay. I'd give you frubals, but I gave mine all out today. I'll give you some as soon as I get some more.

Thanks soup, you rock.

Bishka · #4 01-27-2006, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faint

Thanks soup, you rock.

Thanks.

You too.

jeffrey · #5 01-27-2006, 06:18 PM

I heard John Lennon explain the meaning of a song once. He said what the song meant to him might be different then someone else. If you got a different meaning, that's good. If you could relate to it in your own way, that's what's important.

Mike182 · #6 01-27-2006, 06:20 PM

i have to concur with faint

there are little/no elemtenst of the christian faith in LOTR

Scuba Pete · #7 01-27-2006, 06:36 PM

I agree... it's a classic tale of Hobbit meets wizard, then Hobbit loses wizard only to find wizard again.

FWIW, Tolkien converted CS Lewis to Christianity and their only known falling out was over the Chronicles of Narnia.

Quoth The Raven · #8 01-27-2006, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffrey

I heard John Lennon explain the meaning of a song once. He said what the song meant to him might be different then someone else. If you got a different meaning, that's good. If you could relate to it in your own way, that's what's important.

Similar themes run through all mythologies - including Christianity - therefore if you choose to see it as representative of mythologies in general then you will. If you choose to see it from a purely Christian perspective, then you can relate it all to your relevent mythology without difficulty.

jeffrey · #9 01-27-2006, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quoth_The _Raven

Similar themes run through all mythologies - including Christianity - therefore if you choose to see it as representative of mythologies in general then you will. If you choose to see it from a purely Christian perspective, then you can relate it all to your relevent mythology without difficulty.

Actually, I see it as a movie. Entertainment.