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Thingol · 01-28-2002, 09:56 PM

The argument that the lack of organized religion in The Lord of the Rings is tantamount (thanks for the word Obloquy [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]) to The Lord of the Rings being fundementally unreligious or unchristian is preposterous. Mr. Jenkyns should take a look at the 46 post thread trilogy in the bible for references and allusions to the bible in The Lord of the Rings. I believe that the lack of a practiced religion in The Lord of the Rings is a legitimate criticism, (This is after all a criticism about The Lord of the Rings, not the rest of Tolkien's work). However, Middle Earth is not our world and the fact that no religion is practiced does not take away from the story, I feel that it in fact adds to it. The modern sense of going to church every Sunday has no place in the lands of Middle Earth and to criticize Tolkien's works for this lack of practiced religion is illogical and demonstrates the Mr. Jenkyns does not have a very complex understanding of Tolkien's works.

[ January 28, 2002: Message edited by: Thingol ]

01-28-2002, 09:56 PM	#5
Thingol Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 259	The argument that the lack of organized religion in The Lord of the Rings is tantamount (thanks for the word Obloquy [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]) to The Lord of the Rings being fundementally unreligious or unchristian is preposterous. Mr. Jenkyns should take a look at the 46 post thread trilogy in the bible for references and allusions to the bible in The Lord of the Rings. I believe that the lack of a practiced religion in The Lord of the Rings is a legitimate criticism, (This is after all a criticism about The Lord of the Rings, not the rest of Tolkien's work). However, Middle Earth is not our world and the fact that no religion is practiced does not take away from the story, I feel that it in fact adds to it. The modern sense of going to church every Sunday has no place in the lands of Middle Earth and to criticize Tolkien's works for this lack of practiced religion is illogical and demonstrates the Mr. Jenkyns does not have a very complex understanding of Tolkien's works. [ January 28, 2002: Message edited by: Thingol ] __________________ Yet the lies that Melkor, the mighty and accursed, Morgoth Bauglir, the Power of Terror and of Hate, sowed in the hearts of Elves and Men are a seed that does not die and cannot be destroyed; and ever and anon it sprouts anew, and will bear dark fruit even unto the latest days.