Good versus evil: Downplayed, or overplayed?

[Saraphim]

That's a very interesting article. I've had alot of thoughts on that subject, so now I've got something to say.

First of all, I recognize the Christian themes that are extremely prevalent throughout Tolkien's works. Moreover, I recognize that there are moral themes prevalent as well, often overlapping the Christian ones.

Most people do not want to see that there is any sort of religious undertone in a story (e.g. the LotR movies), especially when it is so popular with the general public.

If the actors, producers, ect, proclaimed that LotR was fundamentaly a Christian story, bad things would happen. Use your imaginations.

In my opinion, the Christian themes are important in the telling of the story, but one thing I do not agree with the author of this article about:

The notion that the Fellowship was ultimately forcing Sauron to follow their particular version of right evidently did not occur to her.

The Fellowship wasn't forcing Sauron to do anything. In fact, if Sauron had had his way, he would have forced his ideas onto everyone else. The Fellowhip was ultimately attempting to save anything right at all.

While I am not Christian, or affiliated with any religion, I (obviously) greatly respect Tolkien and his works, and have no grudge against anything Christian-based. To a certain degree, I see Philippa Boyens' point. Tolkien never tries to convert anyone to Christianity within LotR. To a certain degree, I agree with her, but the book has Christian themes. It was even stated so by Tolkien himself.