The Emblems of Religion don't belong ... or do they?

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Originally Posted by bilbo_baggins

The emblems of religion belong, and not only that, but are necessary for the survival of a realistic story.

The emblems of religion help the story's character seem more life-like as they attempt to fill the gap in their soul. The aching desire to fulfill one's dreams cannot be separated from reality. So, therefore, to keep a story to its truest sense, one must at least have emblems of religion.

I would have to agree with you here. Think that I may have said this earlier in the thread. We have common ground in believing that the story would not have seemed as real as it does if religion - in whatever form - were totally absent. Specifying one particular religion or sect would have pinned the story too close to reality, and so Tolkien played it just right.

Again the scene in which Sam remarks about the star light really resonates with me as it makes me realize that all of this, even the earth on which I stand, will one day pass away, yet there will always be something somewhere to continue the fight against darkness. The stars shown down when I wasn't here and they will still be shining when I'm gone, and somehow that makes it all okay.