[Amanaduial the archer]

Many people see it as a very pagan novel, and there were actually protests when part of LotR was filmed in a Cathedral (Im sorry, i cant remeber which bit- possibly the council at Rivendell). Same with Harry Potter, which was filmed at Durham and Gloucester Cathedral and caused a few reigious societies "major distress" (hey, its the newpapers words, not mine.)(I only know that because my church choir sang there this summer.)

You can read the Lord Of The Rings and the hobbit without thinking of the religion aspect at all, and I dont think the trilogy alone could possibly annoy religious people (I go to Church at least once a week- Im a server and a choirgirl.) The silmarillion does however go quite deeply into the subject of the gods in Middle Earth and many things happen which are divine acts- for example the destruction of the Numenorians. There is a whole multi goded (Im sorry, i cant remember the proper fancy word for it.) religion in Arda.

Religion has always fascinated people because it is something that virtually everyone in the world is involved in in many different ways and forms, yet it can never be fully understood or comprehended, even by those who devote their entire lives to it. It can seperate people and cause wars and huge ethnic cleansings or forms of it (Hitler and the jews for example.), but in the same way it is a bridge that can bring together people and create friendships. The nature of God/gods is one that could be eternally debated, but the fascinating thing is that no one can ever know the answer. Or the answer to what happens after you die- no ones ever going to be able to come back and tell us.


Just my thought for the day.