J.R.R. Tolkien's Sanctifying Myth - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Birdland · 12-09-2002, 07:05 AM

I read the article Child. It sounds like Birzer is raising the ol' "allegory" specter. For instance Gandalf reference to "The Secret Fire" is supposed to be a direct reference to The Holy Spirit? Aragorn is doing a half-genuflection? Maybe Tolkien kissed the Bishop's ring once and thought "Hmmmmm, now there's an idea..."

Every author is going to bring his experiences and upbringing into his work, but for Christians to claim exclusive rights to the symbols and images in LoTR is a bit of a stretch. The mythical aspects of the elements water, fire, air and earth certainly were not "thought up" by Christianity. Neither was the gesture of hand to head, (or heart). And Christianity does not deserve all the credit for certain concepts of morality, or notions of Good and Evil.

I can't wait for someone to write "Tolkien and the Tipitaka", or "Finding The Lord of The Rings in the Koran".

12-09-2002, 07:05 AM	#4
Birdland Ghastly Neekerbreeker Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the banks of the mighty Scioto Posts: 1,751	I read the article Child. It sounds like Birzer is raising the ol' "allegory" specter. For instance Gandalf reference to "The Secret Fire" is supposed to be a direct reference to The Holy Spirit? Aragorn is doing a half-genuflection? Maybe Tolkien kissed the Bishop's ring once and thought "Hmmmmm, now there's an idea..." Every author is going to bring his experiences and upbringing into his work, but for Christians to claim exclusive rights to the symbols and images in LoTR is a bit of a stretch. The mythical aspects of the elements water, fire, air and earth certainly were not "thought up" by Christianity. Neither was the gesture of hand to head, (or heart). And Christianity does not deserve all the credit for certain concepts of morality, or notions of Good and Evil. I can't wait for someone to write "Tolkien and the Tipitaka", or "Finding The Lord of The Rings in the Koran".