[Neithan]

Let me start by saying that I do not completely agree with Tolkien's philosophy. However, I think it is unfair to say that he is against progress. In fact, isn't that the point of the Elves and their Rings. They wanted everything to stay the same forever but it just doesn't work that way. Things change and you have to accept that, whether you like it or not.

Here is an example from my personal experiance. I am a car enthusiast and particularlly love the old gas guzzling muscle cars. I hate the idea of electric or hybrid cars, they have no appeal to me whatever. It kills me to think that one day we will probably all be driving them, but I accept it. It is necessary and it is pointless to stand in the way of progress. I think he had a personal distaste for machinery (like my distaste for hybrid cars) because he preferred the old way.

That being said I think Tolkien had some reservations about some aspects of technology. Problems arise in society from being overly dependent on technology.

That's the funny thing about fiction though, everyone who reads it can interpret it in a different way.