Tolkien, Lewis & Theology

[Tirned Tinnu]

OOoooo, Craban, now you've got my mind chugging. I've just come from an intensive search of Google under the terms "Tolkien + Joseph Campbell". You gave me the idea! I found some wonderful links, several in fact, of Lewis's relationship with Tolkien. Here's a quote which I loved:

I happened to encounter ("The Power of Myth") while at Magdalen College in Oxford, home of C. S. Lewis, who was himself fascinated with myth. In fact, it was along Addison's Walk in that college one autumn night in 1931 that Lewis engaged his friend J. R. R. Tolkien in a conversation on myth. Lewis, who had not yet been converted to the Christian faith, experienced that night something of a pre-evangelical conversion to the power of myth. Tolkien had been arguing that the mythic language of silver elves and moon-lit trees carried a far richer truth than Lewis the rationalist had been willing to admit. As they spoke a gust of wind swept the fall leaves around them in a flurry of enchantment, as if to authenticate what had just been said. Lewis never forgot that night and the experience that gave birth to his love of myth, his openness to Christian faith, and his later forays into the land of Narnia.

Belden C. Lane is professor of theological studies and American studies at Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri.

I also found this class on Gnosticism and Tolkien, and found it highly entertaining. Get out your pens and pencils kiddies, this is one to listen to and take notes on:

Dr. Hoeller - "J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings: Gnosis for Our Day"
http://www.gnosis.org/981002.ram
(Realplayer format, 75 minutes.) He starts out slow, and turns in a very lyrical poetry reading as well as several laughs that are sure to please. Very informative as to certain subjects, such as the different types of souls and Sufi tradition. Touches on Joseph Campbell and Jung for a moment or two.

And for those who want more of this fellow, and his Gnostic views: http://www.gnosis.org/lectures.html

I am rather happy after finishing the lecture. Many of my theories are cemented by Dr. Hoeller! He brings up points which I'm sure we will want to discuss.

****OH! as a treat, I offer you this link to Joseph Campbell Online: http://www.jcf.org/
Membership is free, so register so that you can listen to his lectures for free! There is also a bboard that discusses Myth. I'm going back there now to do some reading. *sigh* I love the internet.

[ September 21, 2002: Message edited by: Tirned Tinnu ]