Tolkien: Evolutionist or Creationist?

[Helín Anyára]

For the most part it sounds(from what I have gathered from the stories), like Tollken had a lot of evolutionist ideals, even for a catholic.

I would disagree. To what, specifically, are you referring?

Tolkien was a Catholic, yes, but he was also a Theist, as was C.S. Lewis— and a fundamental Theistic belief is in the literalness (yes that is a word [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]) of the Bible. The Bible says the world was created, and I think that if you read the Bible openly, and take it for its literal meaning (a word study of the Hebrew would only reinforce this), most would come to the conclusion that claiming to believe in the Bible does, indeed, preclude evolutionism.

But whether we like it or not, everyone interprets what they read with their own bias. If you are seeking to prove that Tolkien upheld evolution, and patterned his works after that belief, then that is what you will inevitably see when you read his writings. If you believe that he was indeed a Theistic Catholic believer, then his books and letters will be interpreted accordingly. If you are unsure, I suggest you simply read things for what they are, and do not tailor them to fit any preconcieved conclusions...

Sorry. [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img] I'm quite talented in the art of babbling, if I let myself get started... [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]