What's on your mind?

[bèlla]

I'll just comment on this. If he despised allegory & didn't mean to put any in (which you & Citanul are both claiming), then perhaps critics are correct when they say Christians shouldn't be reading it because there's wizards & magic & false gods & the like & he was the father of the mainstream secular fantasy we have today that devolved from Christian heritage

Even if that is true, I dont think we are to shun secular entertainment because it can make you more aware of the world we live in & can be harmless. Paul says it's what comes out of your body God's concerned with. How are you thinking. What are you thinking. What are you doing in response.

If you're curious about Tolkien you should ask @Sif to chime in. She's well versed in the subject and similar works. While I don't have the time for a thorough analysis I'll leave this for your consideration. You cannot divorce a thing from its root. It always has traces. Whether they're good or bad. Some are obvious and others fly under the radar.

I've read most of his work and several pieces that influenced him. The gods in mythological tales aren't fables and he drew richly from the subject. Light and dark are fixed and aren't interchangeable. But they can be presented in a manner where the human response is favorable. That's why people root for villains.

Although the subject is Tolkien you can glean a lot from Rowling's comments on her characters. She was heavily influenced by him and others and I read them all as part of a writing apprenticeship I devised. Many of the characters fans laud are viewed otherwise by the author. They delight in Dumbledore and she calls him Machiavellian (he is) and denounced the heroic suggestions about Snape and called him an anti-hero.

I do not consider his works to be Christian. He created stories with themes believers would relate to. But they're general enough where nonbelievers would find them enjoyable. You've read enough Christian literature to recognize when someone speaks of God and it differs from alluding. If he wanted to reference God he would have.

Most importantly, Hollywood chooses films with great intention. It would not have garnered the success it has if the message was obvious. It isn't their intention to promote the gospel or the Kingdom. Whether it's edifying or not depends on the person.

 

[DragonFox91]

If you're curious about Tolkien you should ask @Sif to chime in. She's well versed in the subject and similar works. While I don't have the time for a thorough analysis I'll leave this for your consideration. You cannot divorce a thing from its root. It always has traces. Whether they're good or bad. Some are obvious and others fly under the radar.

I've read most of his work and several pieces that influenced him. The gods in mythological tales aren't fables and he drew richly from the subject. Light and dark are fixed and aren't interchangeable. But they can be presented in a manner where the human response is favorable. That's why people root for villains.

Although the subject is Tolkien you can glean a lot from Rowling's comments on her characters. She was heavily influenced by him and others and I read them all as part of a writing apprenticeship I devised. Many of the characters fans laud are viewed otherwise by the author. They delight in Dumbledore and she calls him Machiavellian (he is) and denounced the heroic suggestions about Snape and called him an anti-hero.

I do not consider his works to be Christian. He created stories with themes believers would relate to. But they're general enough where nonbelievers would find them enjoyable. You've read enough Christian literature to recognize when someone speaks of God and it differs from alluding. If he wanted to reference God he would have.

Most importantly, Hollywood chooses films with great intention. It would not have garnered the success it has if the message was obvious. It isn't their intention to promote the gospel or the Kingdom. Whether it's edifying or not depends on the person.

I never considered his stuff to be overly Christian, then people started to point out parallels, so I see them now, but don’t think the works are saintly or anything like that.

I disagree w/ both posters who have said there’s not supposed to be any parallels & it's more or less a coincidence.

I disagree w/ people who say Christians shouldn’t read his stuff & mainstream secular stuff.

I used to like Harry Potter, I’ve grown apathy towards it, it seems more & more childish as I’ve gotten older. Obsessive fanbaseing over fantasy in general isn't healthy to individuals nor society.

 

[Sif]

If you're curious about Tolkien you should ask @Sif to chime in. She's well versed in the subject and similar works. While I don't have the time for a thorough analysis I'll leave this for your consideration. You cannot divorce a thing from its root. It always has traces. Whether they're good or bad. Some are obvious and others fly under the radar.

I've read most of his work and several pieces that influenced him. The gods in mythological tales aren't fables and he drew richly from the subject. Light and dark are fixed and aren't interchangeable. But they can be presented in a manner where the human response is favorable. That's why people root for villains.

Although the subject is Tolkien you can glean a lot from Rowling's comments on her characters. She was heavily influenced by him and others and I read them all as part of a writing apprenticeship I devised. Many of the characters fans laud are viewed otherwise by the author. They delight in Dumbledore and she calls him Machiavellian (he is) and denounced the heroic suggestions about Snape and called him an anti-hero.

I do not consider his works to be Christian. He created stories with themes believers would relate to. But they're general enough where nonbelievers would find them enjoyable. You've read enough Christian literature to recognize when someone speaks of God and it differs from alluding. If he wanted to reference God he would have.

Most importantly, Hollywood chooses films with great intention. It would not have garnered the success it has if the message was obvious. It isn't their intention to promote the gospel or the Kingdom. Whether it's edifying or not depends on the person.

Well, I can share my limited knowledge of Tolkien and his work. He was a Roman Catholic and scholar of ancient European stories. He was an officer in the British Army and service in the First World War.

His creating story of Middle Earth (The Silmarillion) mentions Eru, The One, who seems to have many of the characteristics of Yahweh. The Secret Fire or Flame Imperishable seems like The Holy Spirit. The Valar appear to be like many of the more powerful angels with Melkor (Morgoth) being very similar to Satan. The lesser spirits, Maiar, seem to be like the less powerful angels.

In the stories there were only five so call wizards, Gandalf, Saruman, Radagast, and the two Blue Wizards. Their "magic" seemed to be limited to opening doors, healing, light. Their real specialty seemed to be knowledge and wisdom.

Having read many of the old Norse, English, and Finnish stories I can see where he drew inspiration. He was also inspired by The Bible itself, being a Roman Catholic. The character Vainemoinen in the Finnish epic poem The Kalevala is clearly an inspiration for Gandalf. The story of Turin Turambar in The Silmarillion was inspired by the story of Kullervo, The Son of Evil in The Kalevala.

The video below is long (1:20) so maybe too long for some, but Dr. Jackson Crawford speaks with a fellow scholar on Tolkien and Norse Mythology and discuss his Christianity as well. Hope some find this and my rambling useful.

 

[Sif]

Here is a (much shorter) video exploring the inspiration Tolkien took from the Finnish epic poem The Kalevala. It is i Finnish but has English subtitles.

 

[All Becomes New]

Been having this fly fly around me and my PC for the last few days. I could kill it, but I don't want to since it is just being a fly. It's incredibly annoying though.

 

[GodDoesListen55]

I no longer feel the urge to fake my emotions based on what others may or may not think of me; what you see is what you get.

 

[DragonFox91]

I no longer feel the urge to fake my emotions based on what others may or may not think of me; what you see is what you get.

Different situations call for different emotional reactions, although honesty about them is many times best.

 

[RileyG]

I no longer feel the urge to fake my emotions based on what others may or may not think of me; what you see is what you get.

Amen

 

[RileyG]

Feeling a bit better today. Thank you for all of your continued prayers. Keep them coming!

 

[RileyG]

I'm so sick of seeing Christianity attacked. Enough is enough.

 

[All Becomes New]

I'm so sick of seeing Christianity attacked. Enough is enough.

Not sure if you mean Christianity is attacked within Christianity (different denominations) or Christianity is being attacked from the outside. I suppose it is some of both.

Pray for unity. Pray that Christians can get along as John 13:34-35 says. The world will always hate true Christians, but on a personal level, people should see our good deeds and be ashamed they are attacking Christianity.

 

[RileyG]

Not sure if you mean Christianity is attacked within Christianity (different denominations) or Christianity is being attacked from the outside. I suppose it is some of both.

Pray for unity. Pray that Christians can get along as John 13:34-35 says. The world will always hate true Christians, but on a personal level, people should see our good deeds and be ashamed they are attacking Christianity.

Amen

 

[GodDoesListen55]

Different situations call for different emotional reactions, although honesty about them is many times best.

Agreed.

 

[GodDoesListen55]

Amen

Thank you!

 

[RileyG]

Good afternoon all

 

[RileyG]

Thank you!

God bless

 

[peaceful-forest]

I went out shopping today. I saw t-shirts with cartoon characters from when I was growing up, like Sailor Moon. That made me feel old.

 

[RileyG]

I've been staying in the house all day.

 

[TheLastGeek]

Men are odd creatures. I wish we could ask some very blunt questions here about the opposite sex, but I have a feeling it would be deemed too...blunt.

 

[TheRealAriel]

Men are odd creatures. I wish we could ask some very blunt questions here about the opposite sex, but I have a feeling it would be deemed too...blunt.

Lol- not my nosy self all curious now