Lord of the Rings: Facts behind the Fiction | History Channel

[Quixote1818]

What is interesting about this is Tolkien's fear of greed that comes from Capitalism and how it leads to the destruction of the planet. I also found it interesting that it's a mix of Pagan and Christian not just Christian as so many Christians seem to think. The end of the video is very interesting and hits the hardest on the points I just made.

[MyshkinCommaPrince]

1. No religious symbolism

Tolkein apparently hated allegory, and made it clear that there was no religious messaging in his works, unlike those of his friend C. S. Lewis. My understanding has always been that he wasn't opposed to capitalism so much as industrialization. The influence of his experience of WWI on his stories is also interesting.

I'm babbling without having watched the video yet. Interested. Thank you for posting.

[1monster]

2. Thank you for posting. I really couldn't afford the 45 minutes it took to watch, but

I watched it anyway. And I'm not sorry. Thanks for sharing.

[truebluegreen]

3. I've always assumed it was an environmental tract,

although anti-industrial is probably closer to the mark. The good guys live in close contact with the land, and respect it (hobbits, elves, Ents); the bad guys (twisted versions of men and elves) tear it up, burn it down, produce industry and smog and desolation. The divide isn't perfect of course--the dwarves delve deep and mine, but they create beauty, and can appreciate it elsewhere. Men also occupy a middle ground, but they act as protectors and value knowledge.

p.s. I see a lot less Christian mythology than "pagan."
p.p.s. edited to add: Tolkien did despise the Christian allegory found in C.S.Lewis and was very blunt about it. I doubt if he would agree with the video on that front.

[Quixote1818]

4. I agree with everything you just said. nt

[truebluegreen]

5. Thanks.

I was just coming back to add that I read the books at a very tender age, and have been an environmentalist ever since...

Also: I don't know when this video was produced, but I don't trust the History Channel these days--it seems they are always pushing a religious agenda.

[demwing]

6. Don't you think despise is too strong?

I had always understood that Tolkien and Lewis were Inklings chums...

Did he disagree with Lewis' Christian themes? Perhaps as a literary tool, but Tolkien was a devout Catholic, and certainly believed in the Christian theology.

"Despise" is going overboard.

[truebluegreen]

7. Sorry! I wasn't clear, I was talking about Lewis' writings, not belief per se.

As for what Tolkien thought: http://atheism.about.com/od/cslewisnarnia/a/jrrtolkein.htm

[adieu]

8. Good find

The segment near the end about Gollum taking the ring and then falling into the lava equated, for me, Gollum to Judas Iscariot. Judas was the one who named Jesus that eventually led to Jesus's crucifixion. But if not for Judas, Jesus's crucifixion would not occur and his subsequent resurrection would not have occurred and the true power of Jesus (at least to Catholics and Christians) would not have occurred.

Very often, Christians explain to me that were it not for Jesus's crucifixion, death and resurrection, he'd be just another preacher. (That's the claim; I'm sure they'd make some other wharrgarble to excuse their beliefs.)

But Judas's role was essential. Without Judas, Jesus would not have died and resurrected. Judas played the unexpected hero to bring greatness to a humble person. Likewise, Gollum did the deed that Frodo couldn't do himself, and thereby gave Frodo the label of a hero.

Gollum died to make Frodo a hero, much like Judas died (afterwards, ok) when making Jesus the hero.

I always wonder why people, Christians in particular, don't rever Judas as much as any of the other apostles. Without Judas, Jesus would have been nothing more than some itinerant preacher.

[vrp]

9. great

I really enjoyed this. thanks