The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Would the Middle Earth saga be considered a religion in of itself?

Bêthberry · 06-13-2002, 08:42 PM

Sorry for the delay in replying, but some young Brandybucks snuck into the Forest looking for thrills and adventure and, well, I simply couldn't let them leave disappointed. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

*brings out pitcher of iced tea and glasses and a platter brimming with 'shrooms, carrots, cauliflower, peppers and a spinach dip, for all to share*

Hello and greetings, Mithadan. *curtsies* I did not think there would be such an arbitrary ban on discussion here. Indeed, one of the reasons I have come to the Barrow Downs is the high standard maintained here for quality discussion.

burrahobbit, Lush, and Legalos, as Mithadan rightly observed, this has turned into a discussion of 'what if.' I have never stated that I worship Eru; in fact, none of my posts have been concerned at all with my personal beliefs; you do not know what they are.

I joined the discussion when the issue raised was the presence of evil. One aspect of religion, aside from formal worship of deities, is an explanation of evil. I assume that was Child of the 7th Age's interest.

Then it seemed to me that the discussion turned to the issue of rigidly separating sacred and secular texts. I wanted to ask about the possibility of another feature of texts, their potential for providing spiritual insight or value, whether or not the text is regarded as sacred or not. Separating religious books from literature overlooks, IMHO, this possibility.

I could just as easily have named the Koran as the Bible, but I choose the book which belonged to Tolkien's belief, wondering if there were similarities in the 'structure of belief,' to use a term from Terry Eagleton, the lit critic. Both the Bible and LOTR are narrative, and narrative is, as critical thought over the last twenty years has shown, a fundamental way the human mind has of perceiving the world. Can narrative speak to us in ways that formal doctrine can't?

This is my query: is it possible to find spiritual insight in a narrative which one does not'worship'?

*pauses to take a sip of iced tea and pass around the 'shrooms*

Bethberry

06-13-2002, 08:42 PM	#29
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	Sorry for the delay in replying, but some young Brandybucks snuck into the Forest looking for thrills and adventure and, well, I simply couldn't let them leave disappointed. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] brings out pitcher of iced tea and glasses and a platter brimming with 'shrooms, carrots, cauliflower, peppers and a spinach dip, for all to share Hello and greetings, Mithadan. curtsies I did not think there would be such an arbitrary ban on discussion here. Indeed, one of the reasons I have come to the Barrow Downs is the high standard maintained here for quality discussion. burrahobbit, Lush, and Legalos, as Mithadan rightly observed, this has turned into a discussion of 'what if.' I have never stated that I worship Eru; in fact, none of my posts have been concerned at all with my personal beliefs; you do not know what they are. I joined the discussion when the issue raised was the presence of evil. One aspect of religion, aside from formal worship of deities, is an explanation of evil. I assume that was Child of the 7th Age's interest. Then it seemed to me that the discussion turned to the issue of rigidly separating sacred and secular texts. I wanted to ask about the possibility of another feature of texts, their potential for providing spiritual insight or value, whether or not the text is regarded as sacred or not. Separating religious books from literature overlooks, IMHO, this possibility. I could just as easily have named the Koran as the Bible, but I choose the book which belonged to Tolkien's belief, wondering if there were similarities in the 'structure of belief,' to use a term from Terry Eagleton, the lit critic. Both the Bible and LOTR are narrative, and narrative is, as critical thought over the last twenty years has shown, a fundamental way the human mind has of perceiving the world. Can narrative speak to us in ways that formal doctrine can't? This is my query: is it possible to find spiritual insight in a narrative which one does not'worship'? pauses to take a sip of iced tea and pass around the 'shrooms Bethberry __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.