The way I understand it, Tolkien disliked the Chronicles for basically two main reasons. First, Tolkien himself says, "I cordially dislike allegory", something the Narnia tales undoubtedly are. Second, Tolkien was annoyed with the way Lewis mixed Greek and Roman and Byzantine elements together in forming his mythological realm of Narnia, while Tolkien's Arda (and Middle-earth) is unified in its Norse origins. And I agree that both men would wince at the term "born again" (that being part of contemporary American evangelical jargon), since Lewis was Anglican and Tolkien Catholic.
Oh, by the way, hello everyone. I'm new and looking forward to stimulating conversation on this board.
Eru's Child
"There was Eru, the One, who in Arda is called Iluvatar; and he made first the Ainur, the Holy Ones, that were the offspring of his thought, and they were with him before aught else was made." - The Ainulindale
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