[davem]

Originally Posted by Feanor of the Peredhil

But the artist, as the creator, has the most sincere understanding of the work having seen it through from the smallest bud of inspiration to the many rewrites, the many cross-outs, the many deletions, all the way to what you see before you.


You've no idea how hard I'm snickering right now. If Tolkien says his works are vaguely Christian, you'd think he'd know.

I'm sure he believed (ie convinced himself ) they were. Which means nothing as far as the works themselves are concerned. They are certainly 'vaguely Christian' but they are also 'vaguely' many other things.

Davem, dear, are we now discussing what Tolkien would have wanted believed of his work, or what you would prefer? Do you think that the Christian applicability cheapens the story? If the parallels being drawn here weren't Christian, would there be such outcry?

There would be from me. I'd be just as critical of a LotR=WWII approach, or a Ring=Atom Bomb approach - or even LotR is a 'pro-pagan' work. So maybe all the Christians can get down from their crosses - no-one's brought nails....

You would stand beneath my castles in the sky and kick out the foundations based on your own logic? How arrogant.

Now, if its a 'real' castle I'm not going to be able to bring it down with a few kicks, am I?