The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Do you think it's okay to research Middle-earth?

mark12_30 · 01-05-2004, 08:36 PM

There are some things TOlkien intentionally left mysterious. Tom Bombadil is a good example.

And yet, there were plenty of other things that he explained a great deal more than anyone (at the time) thought necessary. Some things he delighted in explaining, some things he delighted in hiding. All part of "sub-creation", I guess.

THere is a point where each of us steps back, and says, "It's a great story; let it BE a great story." But that means more or less to each one of us.

I'm not the only one on this forum who's had their life changed by this "great story". In the end, I was born again, largely because of the desire for holiness, truth, and beauty that I learned from both TOlkien and C. S. Lewis. So-- what does "Let it be a good story" mean to me...? It was such a good story, it changed my whole life.

THere are threads such as

LOTR and your Weltanschauung that discuss this. Also check out coming of age club for some other histories.

Have fun at the downs. The story is just a story-- but it's changed more lives than just mine.

01-05-2004, 08:36 PM	#2
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	There are some things TOlkien intentionally left mysterious. Tom Bombadil is a good example. And yet, there were plenty of other things that he explained a great deal more than anyone (at the time) thought necessary. Some things he delighted in explaining, some things he delighted in hiding. All part of "sub-creation", I guess. THere is a point where each of us steps back, and says, "It's a great story; let it BE a great story." But that means more or less to each one of us. I'm not the only one on this forum who's had their life changed by this "great story". In the end, I was born again, largely because of the desire for holiness, truth, and beauty that I learned from both TOlkien and C. S. Lewis. So-- what does "Let it be a good story" mean to me...? It was such a good story, it changed my whole life. THere are threads such as LOTR and your Weltanschauung that discuss this. Also check out coming of age club for some other histories. Have fun at the downs. The story is just a story-- but it's changed more lives than just mine. __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.