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I don't know how many times it has to be stressed that just because a novel is (intentionally or accidentally) in sympathy with a particular religious philosophy that does not make it a 'religious' work. That Tolkien may (or may not) have written LotR to conform to the tenets of his Catholic faith does not mean it is a Catholic work. If Tolkien thought so then he thought wrong.
No-one is saying that LotR contradicts Christian belief/teaching at any point. But there are a number of belief systems one could put forward which are not contradicted by anything in LotR. I can't see how a story (or painting or piece of music) which does not refer directly or allegorically to Christianity can be called a Christian story (fundamentally or otherwise). If there is no direct or indirect mention or depiction of Christian/Biblical figures or themes then how it can be 'Christian' is beyond me.
Just because a book is written by a Christian writer does not make it a Christian book, anymore than if a Christian builds a car it is a 'Christian' car, or if he takes out the trash he is putting 'Christian' trash into a 'Christian' trash can.
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