Trilogy and Bible? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Bombadil · 02-09-2002, 05:42 PM

So we ALL agree that one can interpret Tolkien as one wishes, Christian or non-Christian. Let's get that straight and stop bringing up that particular angle.

What we disagree on is Tolkien's intent. And it's clear from his writings that he had no intention of writing a Christian allegory.

We can argue for centuries about how his Christianity affected his writing, and of course it did. But that doesn't make LOTR an allegory. So Gandalf, Frodo and Aragorn could together represent a Jesus figure? That's a real stretch and not at all typical of allegory. By that same logic, I could pick almost any book off of my shelf and find three characters who could represent parts of Jesus. I can think of episodes of Star Trek that would meet the criteria. Kirk (the leader), Spock (the philosopher who dies and returns to life) and McCoy (the healer) are the first to come to mind, but there are many other possibilities. Does that make Star Trek a Christian allegory? Gimme a break.

As I've said before, Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia is Christian allegory. LOTR is not. It's a simple definition -- look it up in your dictionary. If you want to go through LOTR and other books finding religious meaning, that's wonderful for you and I wish you well in your spiritual journey. But we shouldn't put intentions in Tolkien's pen that were never there in the first place. That's dangerous for the book, dishonorable to the writer, and dishonest for the reader.

02-09-2002, 05:42 PM	#11
Bombadil Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Old Forest Posts: 488	So we ALL agree that one can interpret Tolkien as one wishes, Christian or non-Christian. Let's get that straight and stop bringing up that particular angle. What we disagree on is Tolkien's intent. And it's clear from his writings that he had no intention of writing a Christian allegory. We can argue for centuries about how his Christianity affected his writing, and of course it did. But that doesn't make LOTR an allegory. So Gandalf, Frodo and Aragorn could together represent a Jesus figure? That's a real stretch and not at all typical of allegory. By that same logic, I could pick almost any book off of my shelf and find three characters who could represent parts of Jesus. I can think of episodes of Star Trek that would meet the criteria. Kirk (the leader), Spock (the philosopher who dies and returns to life) and McCoy (the healer) are the first to come to mind, but there are many other possibilities. Does that make Star Trek a Christian allegory? Gimme a break. As I've said before, Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia is Christian allegory. LOTR is not. It's a simple definition -- look it up in your dictionary. If you want to go through LOTR and other books finding religious meaning, that's wonderful for you and I wish you well in your spiritual journey. But we shouldn't put intentions in Tolkien's pen that were never there in the first place. That's dangerous for the book, dishonorable to the writer, and dishonest for the reader. __________________ "'Eldest, that's what I am... Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn... He knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.'"