Tolkiens Lord Of The Rings - A Catholic Worldview

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[@CastelDawn]

well, Tolkien was indeed a pretty hardcore catholic.

[@sophiamelfi6305]

I love all the people that are salty that Tolkien was inspired by the bible. Just because something you like doesn't subscribe to your beliefs you do not have to hate it or rip it apart. He wrote it that way intentionally. Although its not a direct allegory it alludes in many ways to the bible. He believed that the beauty of the story would reflect that enough without making direct metaphors that other authors do such as C.S. Lewis .

[@xdproductions3087]

I’m an atheist but love the study of religions. I’ve always loved that Tolkien drew strongly from Catholicism for LOTR

[@HeroOfTime303]

@@xdproductions3087 being an atheist is a big mistake. I will pray for you and people like you.

[@xdproductions3087]

@@HeroOfTime303 pray for yourself first.

[@othala7540]

Wel acctually he was inspired by Norse mytholgy A LOTT almost everything

[@MS-in3sl]

was it the New Testament exclusively that inspired Tolkien? or did he reference talmud/kabbala jewbible to illustrate the mentality of the enemies of Christ?

[@casperdog777]

Excellent argument for Tolkien's work. Tolkien was a Christian and it was part of who he was and what he did. Worth watching - this is the second time I have watched this. I am not a Catholic, but as a Christian I found it helpful and informative. Thank you.

[@crazycrackinchick]

Dave Alan not to be rude, but Tolkien is catholic! Very similar, but still have fundamental differences. Cheer So! :)

[@DanielMaloneJr]

M T Catholics are Christians. Catholics compiled the Bible and existed 1500 years before the religions you probably claim are true Christianity.

[@biddyearly9262]

@@crazycrackinchick Tolkien is a Catholic Christian. The differences are Catholicism is more close to the early church that Jesus founded and Protestantism is not. Most academic's and historians would disregard your claim that Catholics are not Christian's. Take Care : )

[@5610winston]

It is interesting to consider that Sam accompanied Frodo every step of the way. When Frodo stumbled, Sam supported him. When they were separated, when Frodo was at his moments greatest peril, Sam would not abandon him. Sam carried Frodo when Frodo could not go on. When Sam took up the ring, he considered what he could do to improve the world with The Ring's power, to grow the greatest gardens, he recognized the temptation for what it was. When Frodo was wounded by Sméagol/Gollum, Sam bound and bandaged his hand. Sam accompanied the greatly changed Frodo and Bilbo to the Grey Havens. Sam returned to record the end of the story, and to preserve the "Red Book", to record the days of Aragorn and Arwen, and of Merry and Pippin. Acts of the Apostles? I would argue that LOTR is as much the story of Samwise as of Frodo. Sam, despite his modesty, became a leader of The Shire. Sam used the soil from Galadriel's Garden to rebuild the damaged gardens, the seeds to plant greater and more beautiful trees than had ever been seen in The Shire before the War of the Rings. At the end of Sam's days, he crossed to the Undying Lands. Was Sam equivalent to Saint Peter, or Saint Paul? Just wondering...

[@meew588]

+5610winston Great.

[@morningstarhomestead]

Sam always seemed a guardian angel to me....guardian angels are a key belief in Catholicism.

[@loganw1232]

I think he was more of a Saint John the Evangelist.

[@HooDatDonDar]

Note: Tolkien wrote of the secret fire, the force behind Creation. Gandalf is a servant of the Secret Fire, and tells the Balrog so. Meliorism tries to make new life in the Silmarilion but fails, since “ he had not the secret fire, for it is with Iluvatar” (God/The One) In one of his letters, Tolkien says what the secret fire is. It is the Holy Spirit , the third person of the Trinity Tolkien’s Middle Earth is Christian, waiting for its saviour. Tolkien really left no room to think anything else.

[@HooDatDonDar]

Meliorism=Melkor. Spellcheck is odd.

[@LuisRivera-vf9pk]

Let me get something straight, I'm an atheist and I find this very fascinating indeed.

[@PaoloMunoz]

Next thing you need to do is find Dr. Jordan Peterson and his lectures on "Maps of Meaning".

[@worldchronicles4818]

No one cares if you are atheist.

[@Sijilos]

Atheist here o/, and I care, this shit is awesome; but I wouldn't have been so mind bown without Dr. Jordan Peterson's lectures and ideas. Though I feel ppl in the secular realm were already in the look out for a way to understand religion.

[@moveaxebx]

@@PaoloMunoz Peterson is boring and very overrated.

[@woden20]

@@Sijilos So with internet access and materials available to us, you can create life !! If not random particles bouncing around are more creative ?

[@adeepseadiverindoubt]

My, how J.R.R hasn't aged a day.

[@richardburley4193]

Awesome job! Well done! Very insightful!

[@Veckoza]

Absolutely beautiful. "...This joy of deliverance, this Evangelium, this fleeting glimpse of the *real* Joy, to which all other joys are but a distant echo." That line... nay, that real quote, is of one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard. It gives me knots in my throat every time I listen to it.

[@Eowyn3Pride]

Thank you so much for this!!! 😍 Thank you!

[@winstonelston5743]

The opening reading, the first two or so minutes of this video almost scared the bejeebers out of me. Even watching the reader ascend the sunny slope, you get the atmosphere of Frodo's experience.

[@toprightchannel3080]

I feel that Peter Jackson did a tremendous job with The Lord of The Rings but the films would've been bolstered with a greater incorporation of the themes that Pearce delves into.

[@seanmoran2743]

Hollywoods Materialism wouldn’t allow it Excalibur by John Boorman touched those themes more than Peter Jackson But then we are far more materialistic and shallow now

[@akostarkanyi825]

Thank God for this valuable film!

[@5610winston]

Just occurred to me that many of the Jews immigrating to America would not mark their papers with a letter "X" mark because of the association with The Cross which had been used as an instrument of torture against them in antiquity, and as a symbol of persecution in more recent times. Instead, many would mark a circle ("kikeleh, little circle" in Yiddish, leading to the offensive and repugnant religious slur which I will not report here). The Cross did not carry the significance in the Third Age, so The Ring was a logical symbolic substitution.

[@HooDatDonDar]

Jesus spoke to Jews who were not following the rules. He might say the same the followers of His who did not. Once, he called one of the Apostles ‘Satan’ This hash of old anti Jewish and anti Catholic slurs with misinterpeted texts is old. Try one libel at a time, next time.

[@HeroOfTime303]

Judaism is anti-Christ in its essence.

[@ryanparker4996]

Their aversion to the Cross is not born out of traumatic memories but of their burning hatred of Christ. In their Talmud it is written that Christ is in Hell. They are not what you think they are. They are the synagogue of Satan. Keep up. Its like you people havent even read the book.

[@humphreyaugustus2932]

Aragorn, Gandalf and Frodo are Christ-figures.

[@rlburton]

Gandalf is actually a guardian angel; one of the Maiar, servant of the Archangel (Valar) Nienna, Lady of Mercy who weeps continually for healing and pity over Middle Earth (evocative of Mary).

[@cyclone8974]

Gandalf is ripped off of Odin

[@seanmoran6510]

@@cyclone8974 You missed the point

[@ryanparker4996]

​@@cyclone8974 "ripped off" son, you dont understand enough to speak on the matter. Quiet yourself.

[@cyclone8974]

@@ryanparker4996 so it's not a rip off Odin? LOL Sure man.

[@mariaferrara2011]

Spectacular, very well presented.

[@marijansitum5678]

Where I can find this conversation between Tolkien and Lewis, maybe in some book, or in some correspodence between them?

[@jasonli4951]

Where can I find the video link of the man read Tolking’s words before the cross?

[@fepeofflatearth3794]

So is Sam Gamgee, who accompanied Frodo on his journey, an allegory of Simon (Samon) of Cyrene who helped Jesus carry the cross?

[@GodSaveOurTeam]

No, because Tolkien explicitly said that there is no allegory in LotR. You could say that Sam is a 'type' of Simon, but really (according to Tolkien's letters) he is more of a tribute to the batmen who served as servants to the officers in the Great War.

[@5610winston]

Tolkien may have denied the allegorical elements, but the reader cannot ignore what is so obvious. You will remember that "A Long-Expected Party" was Frodo's thirty-third birthday (as well as Bilbo's "eleventy-first"), and the age at which Jesus entered Jerusalem. Was Sam Simon of Cyrene? Perhaps Simon was one aspect of Sam's composition. I do not, for example, (and I may be mistaken, so please do not judge me too harshly if I am) recall any gospel or apocryphal references to Simon writing or recording any history, or significant epistles. Sam became a prolific scribe and historian, maintaining "The Red Book", recording the significant events and Aragorn and Arwen's deeds after the War of the Ring, and the Dawn of the Fourth Age of Middle Earth.The reader will, however, recognize aspects of most of the Apostles within him. Sam was essentially an innocent and gentle character, but he was fierce when he had to be, standing up even to the mighty Aragorn. He was at once simple and wise, a thinker and a pragmatist.It could be argued that he was the most significant of all the characters, stronger of will even than Frodo, more resistant to temptation, Frodo's strength and salvation in his times of greatest peril.

[@rlburton]

Evocative, certainly, he affirmed that, but not allegorical.

[@Pius1]

No, the Frodo and Sam relationship relationship is military officer and servant as you would have seen in British army of WW1.

[@rlburton]

Steven Peter Yes, certainly, but an author can evoke (again, evoke, not allegory) two things with one image. Sam and Frodo are as officer and servant, "batman" to the British, but Christ is sometimes referred to as "our great Captain".

[@urmorph]

Compare also Goethe's Mephistopheles, "I am the Spirit which negates", etc. Note that Mephistopheles never actually tells his name to Faust; in the demonic world the name is the thing, and knowing it brings power over the thing.

[@rafaelmedina5361]

Impresionante

[@edlyons2146]

Great Christian art can be overt, like the Divine Comedy, or covert, like Lord of the Rings. Eliot was somewhere in between, journeying from the Waste Land to realms of grace.

[@FingolfinNolofinwe]

I feel the acting in this is better than Amazon's Rings of Power...

[@HaveAVindicare]

What happened to people saying that "One thing can 'represent' another", not as arrogant as to say that "One thing 'is' another".

[@sven179]

The comment on "Saruman" being likewise 'satanic' is misguided I believe. Only much further down into the Third Age did Saruman fall; whence his name would not seem to refer to something evil (for otherwise, he would not have taken it). Furthermore, Tolkien's thought was more sophisticated than this: the Anglo-Saxon word 'searu' means 'clever', 'skilful'. Also, it is a bit odd to compare the One Ring to original sin: the former was made by Sauron (not Morgoth, mind you!) quite far into the history of Middle Earth... Besides, not all rings were evil: the three elven-rings were not. There are parallels certainly, but it's not to be an exact allegory for it. In the end, I find this video to present a rather narrow allegorical reading of LotR, something Tolkien never intended (he said as much in his foreword to it). I don’t think one will appreciate the deeper thought that went into LotR as much when taking the attitudes presented herein.

[@jamesdaniels8007]

Though I am a Baptist Tolkien and Lewis have been great influences on how I look at life and the Bible. In the prologue of Mere Christianity Lewis states that he wrote the book, not as a way to convert people to his faith, Catholicism, but to present "an agreed, or common, or central, or 'mere' Christianity". In the end what matters is, not our denomination in Christianity, but that we agree on the important points, Christ is the only freedom from sin and His death and resurrection ensure this.

[@DanielMaloneJr]

I can’t say I agree. I’d say it’s highly recommended to be part of the Church our Lord Jesus Christ founded.

[@jamesdaniels8007]

@@DanielMaloneJr If we follow Christ and what he taught, are we not a part of his church? If we believe in Him as our savior then, as a part of His church, will we not become His bride when he comes to claim us? I believe and trust that because I follow Him that I belong to Him, Catholic or not. The definition of the word catholic is "including a wide variety of things; all embracing". At the first council held by the Christians in Nicea they described themselves as a Catholic church; meaning that though they were not unified in one building they were unified in one belief, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He died for our sins, and that He arose victorious from the grave, purchasing us with his blood and defeating death, he'll and the grave. I don't want to place a wedge between us, but I believe it to be important that we come to an understanding that when we die it is possible, and I believe true, that we will see each other in heaven once we die, our our blessed Lord returns to take us home.

[@DanielMaloneJr]

james daniels Wrong the definition of Catholic is universal. By the Council of Nicea you refer to the Catholic Church already had the visible hierarchical structure it has today. It had priests, above them Bishops, and a Pope. Read the book of acts being part of the Church isn’t merely a spiritual belief that invisibility unites us all, it’s also a unity of belief and practice. You must be baptized, you must repent, you must become Catholic. I don’t say this out of arrogance or pride I say this out of concern for your eternal soul. I was once a Protestant myself. Heed Jesus’ pray that “they may be one as you are one” (St John 17:21)

[@jamesdaniels8007]

@@DanielMaloneJr My eternal soul was bought by the blood of Jesus, and it was secured when I put my faith and trust in Him as my Savior and Redeemer. I was then baptized in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit. We may see this differently, but I am an adopted child of God and joint heir with Jesus, our Lord and brother.

[@jamesdaniels8007]

@@DanielMaloneJr Hey, I just wanted to say thank you for talking with me this morning, it was very uplifting for me. I just wanted to share with you the Nicene Creed. This is from the first council of Nicea, which is the first council after the persecutions had ended and was called together "through the grace of Christ and our most religious sovereign, Constantine". We believe in one God, the Father, Almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible: and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Begotten of the Father, Only Begotten, that is, of the substance of the Father; God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, Begotten, not made. Being of one substance with the Father; By Whom all things are made, both those in heaven and those in earth; Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down, And was incarnate, and was made Man, Suffered, And rose again the third day, Ascended into heaven, And cometh again to judge the quick and the dead: And in the Holy Ghost. But them that say there was a time when He was not; and that He was not before He was begotten ; and that He was made of things which are not; or who say that He is of another substance or essence; or that the Son of God is subject to conversion or mutation; these the Catholic and Apostolic Church anathematizes. These is from the "Index Canonum", translates by John Fulton, D.D., Rector of Christ Church, Mobile, published in 1872. This Nicene Creed is one I believe in and trust. This is early Christian beliefs and the fact that our core beliefs are still in existence and strong is evidence of their reliability. I do have a priest I visit with and confess my sins to. His name is Jesus, the Messiah, and He is all I need in this life until I live with Him forever in Heaven with our Father. May God Bless You My Brother.

[@halvardlund4782]

A good, beautiful - but very argumentative documentary. Except at 40:17, which almost sounds spiritualistic, to use the fiction of the ring, so directly on the "Kingdom of God".

[@MariaLuisa-ix3uo]

Alguém traduz para o português por favor!!! D:

[@csdr0]

Better still - Christian Values and not Christian Worldview (which includes Christian Theological Doctrines). Value is so different from Worldview. The LOTR shows Christian values but not basic Christian theology like the Trinity and heaven and hell. Examples of Christian Values are mercy, kindness, simplicity, forgiveness, humility, loving one's enemy, not to despair but to hope, peace, endurance, faith in divine providence, The fate of men in the JRR Legendarium is so different from man's fate in Christian teachings. Men regardless of their behavior in Arda escape from the world and join Eru Illuvitar in the timeless void where men will participate in the second song of the Ainur in the renewal of the world suggesting strongly that men's fate is to become an Ainur like the Valar and Maiar. This suggest Universalism - that all souls of men (even the evil Easterlings and Southorns) will be saved. This is not the Christian Worldview. Further, men unlike the immortal Elves will not resurrect back into Arda since their special gift from Eru is to be permanently freed from the burden of the world. This is clearly not teaching the Christian doctrine of bodily resurrection of men at the coming of Christ at the end of time. Melchor was pardoned after committing many sins against Illuvatar, the Valar and the Elves. After 3 ages he was released from the Halls of Mandos and given another chance in Valinor. Satan was immediately thrown out of heaven never to be forgiven. There is no hell in JRRT Legendarium since the VOID is clearly not hell. In the beginning before the creation of any heavenly creatures there is Eru ALONE. But the Christian Worldview (John 1:1) denies that since God is love there must eternally exist someone who is the object of his love - the WORD or the Son of God with the Holy Spirit. There is nothing in Christianity where the Elves belong nor the dwarves who were created by one of the Valar. The Dwarves worship this Valar (they call "Mahal") and not Eru. Men are forbidden to live with the holy ones (Valar and Maiar) in the undying land (Valinor) whereas only the Elves were allowed and even commanded to go to Valinor. Men are abandoned to live in Middle Earth where the evil of Morgoth and Sauron reigns. In the First Age, the Valar waged war against Morgoth and Sauron for the sake of the Elves but not for the sake of men even though Morgoth was corrupting men. No attempt by the holy ones to save men. Is this Christian? Definitely not. Is it Catholic then? Neither.

[@HooDatDonDar]

It is pre-Christian. Tolkien wrote in an unpublished story ( later appearing in the ‘History I Middle Earth ‘) about a dialogue between an El and a wise Woman. The conclusion was that Arda was marred beyond hope, unless - somehow - Eru himself could enter Hus own creation somehow, and heal it. They did not see how such a thing cop be, but declined to say anything was impossible to the One. Note: Tolkien does talk about the ‘remaking’ of Arda marred, quite orthodox. He does not say all men will participate, just that they are made for that. No universalism there, maybe some will not qualify. What happens to the Elves, bound to the world/Arda is a puzzle, and Tolkien says so. Whatever Valar/ Archangel is responsible for what people, all acknowledge the One as the One and Only. Finaly, Tolkien speaks of the Ainur as entities that can be accepted ‘by a mind that believes in the Blessed Trinity’. His exact words.

[@bayreuth79]

The notion that evil as the "privatio boni" (privation of good) is not unique to Roman Catholicism but is part of Judaism, Orthodoxy, Islam, and other non-Catholic forms of religion. Augustine did not invent the notion of evil as a parasitic reality.

[@Truthseeker1515]

So much for the Catholic message?

[@ComeLeVent]

I did know that it is inspired by christian wold view

[@nerimonica4059]

Not just christian worldview but a very catholic world view

[@satanlover134]

16:19 I'm really confused is this an actual exchange or is that bullshit?

[@TheMegaRin]

The exchange took place but I dont think there exists a word-for-word manuscript of it.

[@Texocracy]

It was retold in a letter by Lewis. You can find Lewis’s summation of this conversation in his letter compilations. This program copies it verbatim.

[@HeroOfTime303]

Change your name or God will judge you, surely.

[@probro9898]

He calls it a "Catholic worldview", but most of what he says applies to Christianity in general. Also it's worth noting that C.S. Lewis never became a Roman Catholic, much to Tolkien's disappointment. In fact after Lewis' conversion to Christianity (but not Catholicism) the two men grew significantly apart.

[@ablanuza76]

Lewis converted to the Anglican church. Though i find it interesting how you write as if any denomination that is not Catholicism as "Christians". As if Catholics are not Christians. Are you familiar with the history of Christianity?

[@probro9898]

@@timcusack9388 Some would say there's no such thing as Christians INSIDE the Catholic Church, but I'm against such generalisations. Better to look at individuals.

[@michaelradigan4051]

Tolkien himself said this is " a profoundly religious and Catholic work" and that everything he knew about beauty, truth and goodness he attributes to his love for the (one true holy apostolic) Catholic Church and the Blessed Virgin Mary....For all you poor folk who wrote below so hopelessly and without intellect -- I'm sorry....what about your immortal soul? It's not the silly Joseph Campbell "everything is everything archetype" or yin yang or buddhist or muslim emptiness or heresy.....do you think Camus or Nietzche was right? Where are they now?...hell is real.. but Cheer up --join the Faith -- it will save your life...ask a brilliant former atheist like Jennifer Fulwiler...and making fun of his lisp? Really?, sorry your not as smart as Pearce...or as in love with the one true faith Christ gave us through Peter))) Be Happy - Tolkien gave us a way to know Christ and His Church)

[@dhindaravrel8712]

I love seeing two works of fiction combined and related to each other. Thank you :)

[@HeroOfTime303]

Turn yourself to Christ. You will regret not doing so.

[@lefooo]

This was actually awesome.

[@NathanEllery]

Ummmm the book doesn't 'take place thousands of years before Christ revealed himself', it takes place in an imaginary world where time comparisons don't make any sense.

[@HooDatDonDar]

The book is set in our world, in an imagined prehistory. Rumors of it are supposed to have survived into modern times, like the story of ‘Atalante’, the Downfallen. Numenor becomes the Atlantis myth. In one of his Lost Tales, two characters talk about how the world has been marred from the beginning and can never be fixed unless...and it seems impossible...unless.... ....the One, Himself, should enter the world and heal/fix it. Which seems impossible. But they conclud that nothing is impossible for the One. Yes, the book takes place thousands of years before Christ reveal himself. In our world.

[@bayreuth79]

Roman Catholicism has a lot in common with other traditional religions, such as Hinduism, Judaism, Orthodoxy and Islam. I think that what people resonate with most of all in Tolkien's work is the "perennial philosophy" that is an essential part of all the world's religions. That which is specific to Catholicism (or indeed Nicene Christianity) is more or less absent from the work: Trinity, Incarnation, Eucharist, atonement theory. C S Lewis's Narnia _is_ a traditional Christianity novel; but Tolkien? Much less obviously so.

[@aaroncarlson1162]

That may be, but Tolkien was a hardcore conservative Roman Catholic - Meaning that he saw his faith as the ONE AND ONLY, absolute truth... So I don't think he had a universalist worldview like George Lucas.

[@aaroncarlson1162]

And that's without considering certain story elements such as: Lembas Bread as strength for life's journey (Eucharist), Eru Illuvatar (a slow moving, almost "medieval-Catholic" God), the Ainur (hierarchy of the Angels), the Dark Lords and fallen spirits (imagery of fallen angels), the Ring (a symbol of Original Sin, the source of all evil, inflicted by the greatest foe, passed on from generations before), the Elves (the Saints immortalized by the ancient Church structure, thought of as being MORE PURE than living mortals, men), Lady Galadriel (a Marian character, fitting for the greatest living elf), Frodo, Aragorn and Gandalf (The tree-fold office of Christ - Priest, Prophet and King)... And etc.

[@aaroncarlson1162]

+Aaron Carlson oh, and the "Undying Lands" serving as a waiting-zone, not heaven not earth, is teeming of Purgatory.

[@tootz1974]

+bayreuth79 Tolkin was a strict catholic. he was not writing about all religions. to think that is an insult to his work!

[@peterselig9210]

Hi bayreuth79, I am interested in what you believe Roman Catholicism has in common with Islam. Would you please share with the readers here more of what you believe they have in common? Blessings in Christ, Peter

[@Israel2.3.2]

Fascinating and bewildering. Making my way through the gospels and I now see that what was presented to my young mind as a unified story told by different associates of Christ are actually products of various flavours of early Christianity of later generations. The johannine gospel is of a very different species from the synoptics for example, a different myth if you like. One can claim that there is a single Christ myth but this seems dishonest to me.

[@HaveAVindicare]

I just wish they had hired someone without the most irritating of speech impediments. "Fwow him to the fwoor sentuwion!"

[@lee9953]

They didn't hire him. Since he's authored books on the subject and given many talks about it, I'm pretty sure he wrote this program, or at least was one of the writers, and EWTN produced it. Filmed up the road from me in Hanceville. I can look past his manner of speech. How tacky of you to make fun of him.

[@metalgearsolidsnake6978]

catholic view? is it not more of a personal view and not a catholic?

[@jesusacuna309]

No?

[@lee9953]

Nope, it's pretty much Catholic. Did you watch the video?

[@user-yg6dk9eh8g]

that's not Tolkien

[@marcolastra9285]

"a Catholic book"? In my opinion, Tolkien went beyond catholicism.... And yes, there is such a place and the great ones in your church know it.....

[@HeroOfTime303]

Can you elaborate on what "beyond" Catholicism (universalism) is? And who in the church subscribes to said idea?

[@Flubberg464]

GAY!

[@stvbrsn]

But not fake?!?

[@BrannonParker]

Christopher Tolkein writes on the Gayness of characters in his father's writings. "Turin was of deep significance to my father, and in dialogue of directness and immediacy he achieved a poignant portrait of his boyhood, essential to the whole: his severity and lack of gaiety, his sense of justice and his compassion; of Hurin also, quick, gay, and sanguine..." intro to Children of Huron by JRR Tolkein

[@5610winston]

Uh, until relatively recent, the word "gay" meant carefree and cheerful, and was innocent of the current implications regarding preferences of intimate partners, or the still more recent implications of incompetence (lameness).

[@HooDatDonDar]

Tolkien said if his characters had heard of homosexuality, they would regard it as something ‘done under the Shadow’.

[@HeroOfTime303]

@@HooDatDonDar May you please source me the letter or interview he mentioned that? May God bless you.

[@bertrandpinneo715]

This is so awesomely horrible as to be a thing of perfection. The guy's speech impediment is straight out of Monty Python. Simply astounding......

[@virgorising7388]

It's not an impediment. It's the speech of a certain class in London where he's from.

[@JMDinOKC]

It’s a shame that Tolkien never crossed paths with Einstein, or Gödel, or Dirac, or Feynman, or Hawking, or Georg Cantor, or in fact even the likes of Watson and Crick. The discoveries of modern physics, mathematics and biology reveal a universe with an underlying order far stranger and more wonderful than anything religion has come up with. The 4 walls of the prison of religion were indeed the walls Tolkien lived in. To take just one example: Who needs the Biblical creation myth when you have the Big Bang? Or another: Who needs a God when you have the prime numbers and the 11-dimension multiverse?

[@erravi]

There is a 100% chance you’re subscribed to r/atheism.

[@erravi]

JMDinOKC You should look up the creator of that Big Bang theory. A Catholic bishop by the name of Georges Lemaître. Or maybe you’ve heard of Isaac Newton? Johannes Kepler? The first to develop the scientific method, Robert Grosseteste? Only fools think religion is antithetical to science!

[@JMDinOKC]

@Esteban Coombs That makes NO SENSE at all.

[@JMDinOKC]

Ziya T Philosophy is dead. Religion is dead. Nothing that any philosopher or superstitious primitive has ever dreamed up is as strange and amazing as the world according to modern physics.

[@DanielMaloneJr]

erravii Slight fact check from my knowledge he was a Catholic priest not a Bishop but you’re still correct. The Big Bang theory was mocked by atheists as a way to prove Gods existence until it was vindicated by the discovery of cosmic radiation.

[@simonwatts8338]

Considering there seems to be absolutely no organised religion in Tolkien, no priests, no churches, no praying bar the Elves singing hymns to Elbereth, it seems to me that Tolkien was quietly rebelling against his religion in his writings.

[@nolef7nu7]

+Simon Watts You wish

[@aaroncarlson1162]

Unless you also remember that there was no organized religion in Narnia either...

[@aaroncarlson1162]

Plus his Catholic worldview shows in the fact that various high elves and Valar are praised by men and elves, BUT... Just like how the Ainur created the world, but it was ERU working through them. All honor given to one of his creations is received by Him (Marian devotion).

[@YiaMdj]

+Simon Watts He rebelled against the established order of the church at most, not the religion itself.

[@jurisprudens]

+YiaM - ワイアム He did not rebel against anything.