Would the Middle Earth saga be considered a religion in of itself?

[Lush]

*turns a puzzled look at Lush*

You wouldn't by any chance be implying that we here are not 'thinking persons,' would you?

Nope, but I am "implying" that if you spend about six months buried in Tolkien-land, without shutting off the analytical part of your brain, and the seeking part of your soul, you do end up with a conclusion that this is literature, mystical, powerful, beautiful, but literature nevertheless, and as such, has spiritual limitations. As in, I am fascinated by Tolkien's Varda, but I could not worship her.
Frankly, the closest I've come to "worshipping" Tolkien's characters is the (figurative, thank God) drooling over my image of Glorfindel, and the like. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]