Quote:
|
I hope you don't take this wrong, but do you understand better now?
|
Iarwain, I know that you believe I'm wrong, and that's cool, that's your belief and I understand that this is necessary in any faith; to truly believe you are right. Thus others are wrong.
This I do not object to, it's more the flaunting of your belief that I am wrong. I obviously know you think it, and I'm sure you know that it's reciprocated. But it just strikes me as rather crass to parade it as such, as opposed to being an unspoken thing. Hehe, it all comes back to religion! My group of best mates consists of lads from different faiths, and those without one. Our one rule when we go out drinking, or anywhere socially is that we never talk about religion. Not only it never reaches a conclusion, but also it's not really fun stuff! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] And besides, I've always viewed religion as a one on one relationship between a person and their God(s) which would stay more special by treasuring it and keeping it personal. It's more intimate that way, I think.
I missed something from way up. The Elves as Christians? I know you haven't read the Sil, but if this is the case you'd be horrified with Feanor and his sons' blasphemy! This is way off and almost racist. With the exception of a few, ONLY Elves went to Valinor. Using the inferred parallel, am I to assume that you believe only Christians will go to the Heaven you believe in?
I think the assumption that the Elves represent Christians is a bit narrow-minded, I'm afraid. That isn't Tolkien's style, it's a cruder Lewis-esque method of writing. I think Elves are more likely to represent purity (again with exceptions), the wholesome nature conscious rural non-destructive people that Tolkien would have approved of. I personally think that rather than specific religions, the element of the rural versus the urban is the most important factor when looking for symbolism in Tolkien's species.