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Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man
I know that it has at times embarked on diversions away from the original post, but can we at least please get back to discussing Tolkien and his works.  |
It seems satire is out of place here, so if I may explain my position.
1)I think it coud be argued that 'Pink Elephantism' is no more irrational or ridiculous than any other religion & is as deserving of dis/respect as any other. Perhaps we could have a list of 'religions deserving of respect' & 'religions open to mockery' along with the criteria by which they are to be judged to be one or the other.
2) I think, if examined objectively, it will be found that LotR contains/confirms elements of any & every religion/belief system/world view that has, does, or will ever exist. This being the case I consider the 'discovery' of Christian elements in LotR to be supremely irrelevant as a topic as one could find Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Pagan, humanist (& very probably Pink Elephantist elements) in there because you'll find whatever you look for.
3) If LotR is to be considered a 'Christian' work it has to be proved that it is not an 'anything else' work, or at least that it is a
more 'Christian' work than it is an 'anything else' work. To me that has not been done & we've been at this for more years than I care to remember ...
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Originally Posted by Raynor
It seems to me that your statement disregards the source of the work. I am curious, if the pope would have been the author of this story, and if he declared it is catholic, would you still express your doubts about it?
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Well, I wouldn't just accept it as a fact. I'd want to know in what sense he considered it to be 'Catholic'. You seem to be saying that as a Catholic wrote the book it is a Catholic story. In what way is LotR 'Catholic' to a non Catholic reader?
Forget who wrote it, forget all Tolkien's statements. Just look at the story itself. What would make an open minded reader of no faith think 'This is a Christian book'?