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Originally Posted by Boromir88
So, to my friend, to christians, or anyone who chooses to see it that way, LOTR is a 'Christian book.' To me, it's not a Christian book, but it's a historical fantasy adventure. To others it may look like a Hindu book...etc. Which one of us is right? No one is more or less right than the other.
Eventhough to me I don't see it as a Christian book, I see no purpose to be stubborn and say, "whoever believes it is, is wrong, flawed, and it is useless to read it as a Christian book." Because that would deny one of the very many and passionate influences of the author.
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Yes, they have their own interpretation - certainly. But
it is not logical that everyone's individual interpretation of the book is 'right.' If anyone attempts to argue that then he has, as the saying goes, "both feet planted firmly in mid-air."
There is one meaning to a book - what the author intended. There can be trillions of different interpretations (not the one meaning) by different readers. That is
fine. But it doesn't change the intent of the author, which is what I think we have to look at if we want to know if LotR is a 'Christian book' or not.
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Originally Posted by SpM
I have no objection to people having their own interpretation. I only object when they try to foist it on me, either directly or indirectly by implying that my appreciation of it is inferior to theirs because I do not share their view of it.
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davem brought up that point earlier when I was discussing a slightly different matter with him on this thread.
I am not trying to 'foist' my interpretation of LotR being a 'Christian work' on you. I am simply saying look at what the author's intention was - if that is that it was a Christian work, then consider Tolkien to be foisting his intentions on you.
And I don't see how your appreciation could possibly be inferior to mine or anyone else's if you choose to value your interpretation over Tolkien's. As far as I'm concerned LotR being a 'Christian work' means very little in the sense of how you read the book.
At any rate, I guess I'll be pulling back to a spectator's seat (most likely
) because the discussion is drifting farther from the original topic in my opinion & I'd rather not help it along.