[Religion] Unintentional Religion in Tolkien's works?

[Gandalf_theGrey]

Hullo Baran:

* bows a greeting *

When you say that Tolkien's world is not to your mind "a very Christian influenced world" ... it appears that you have overlooked Orome's post above, wherein he quotes Tolkien quite clearly from Letter #142 as saying that "The Lord of the Rings is of course a fundamentally religious and Catholic work."

In fact, if you read the entire paragraph from Letter #142, of which Orome quoted only a part, you will see Baran, that Tolkien himself disagrees with your claim that "... to say that Tolkien had any religius intentions when writing the books is totally wrong."

Below please find the relevant paragraph from Tolkien's Letter #142 in its entirety:

The Lord of the Rings is of course a fundamentally religious and Catholic work; unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision. That is why I have not put in, or have cut out, practically all references to anything like "religion', to cults or practices, in the imaginary world. For the religious element is absorbed into the story and the symbolism.

Please note, Baran, that Tolkien states that The Lord of the Rings is a Catholic work "consciously so in the revision." Therefore, the factual evidence of Tolkien's own letters documents that indeed, to say that Tolkien had any religius intentions when writing the books is, as a matter of fact, quite correct.

If you can provide a quotation with evidence to the contrary that supports your views, Baran, I encourage you to post it.

Looking forward to a productive intellectual discussion and the further exchange of views,

Gandalf the Grey