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| Religion in Middle-earth by Nerdanel | 2 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| TieAillin Alcarion | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/24/2004 |
| Quite interesting. You've pulled together a lot of references I'd read, but hadn't put together in a systematic fashion. Tracey Walking with Elves Author Reply: Thank you very much, Tracey. I had been thinking about this topic a lot and, liek you, had a lot of reference from things I had read, but had not put them together. So last summer I sat down and said, "I am going to write this!" I'm glad you liked it. I had fun writing it. Nerdanel | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/24/2004 |
| Very excellent summary of the various religious elements observable in JRRT's Middle-earth. I think the main point it is that there is not any *organized* religion as we think of it today--not only no temples (except for the Dark) but no priests, no heirarchy, no holy books. It ties in directly with what Tolkien meant when he said it "was not a Christian world". This was supposed to be a *pre-history*, taking place not only before Christ, but even before the revelations to Abraham. Since the One True God had not yet revealed himself as he later did, Tolkien made the concious decision that the "good guys" would not have a religion per se. This of course is not to say that many of them were not religious in the sense of believing in Eru and the Valar, but it was not what *we* define as religion today. A very small point on the Rohirrim--we do have the mention by Theoden of going to his fathers, and that he would be in the company of his ancestors, so clearly there was some belief in the afterlife. Thanks for an excellent essay. Very nice job! Author Reply: Hi, Dreamflower! Yes, that was the point: that there is no organized religion. It is an important distinction to make, I think. That's what makes Tolkien such a brialliant writer: that he can insert religion, in a way, but make it not organized, or overt. You're right about the Rohirrim. Darn, I forgot about that part. I should go back and add that. Thank you for mentioning that! Thanks a lot for your kind review, too. I appreciate it. Nerdanel | |