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Originally Posted by Lindolirian
The solemn ceremonies on Meneltarma seem to exemplify what ever religious events might take place in Arda. It was a very sacred event, in which no one was permitted to speak (except the King), all wore pure white ceremonial robes and the emissaries of Manwë never failed to appear (that is until the practices were abandoned). Also the Standing Silence, on the surface, is a tribute to the memory of Numenor, but could easily be construed as a memorial to those sacred thanksgivings to Iluvatar. These are some examples of emblems of religion but Tolkien did, however, keep religion and worship in the background in his stories rather than as a driving force as it was in the history of our world.
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Is it that these remembrances and solemn ceremonies seem right and natural for the characters to do, meaning that they do not seem forced nor unrealistic? Tolkien may have wanted to show that there was
some religion in his world, but not one in particular. These examples enhance the story, but are
not the story. To leave all religious allusions/examples out may have made the world seem more fantastic than he desired.
None of the examples have a direct link to something in my current culture, and when reading them I didn't see any meaning beyond that people in Arda worshipped Iluvatar etc.
The Meneltarma ceremonies were detailed (to me) so that Sauron's debasement of the same could be seen. And the Standing Silence may have been used to show that these men were not common brigands with selfish ends, but noble men with a higher purpose.