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

[bilbo_baggins]

To jump off the nitch that I got stuck on, I will assume that the reality we all try to agree to does actually exist. So, onward...

Hmm.

I just thought that we have been mentioning the emblems of religion in Tolkien's work without truly defining the emblems.

What are the emblems? Is it the inherent goodness in the moral ethics shown in the behaviour of Hobbits in their Shire? Or is it references to Illuvatar and the Undying Lands? What are emblems that need to stay and/or go? What is necessary and what is not?

Even though I for one enjoy the idea of having an Illuvatar, Tolkien seems to downplay his existence and even the existence of the Valar in the Trilogy and the Hobbit, which are more widely read. Even in the Silmarillion, which has much to do with the Valar, Illuvatar does not have much of an active role aside from the Ainundale. So it would seem that Eru is not an emblem that need stay.

Of course, the Maiar of Middle Earth, like the wizards, balrogs, and Tom Bombadil (he is a Maia, isn't he?) are very necessary, and could correlate to angels/demons in classic religion. They help to impart a special link of reality, though heightened sense of reality, into the story. So, in my opinion they can stay.

Comments?

b_b