Melilot Classic - January 03, 2007
Concerning J.R.R. Tolkien (and His Faith)
If I could meet anyone in all history (except for Bible people cuz while they may be true, those tend to be cliche answers), I think it would be John Ronald Reuel Tolkien. Not because he's the author of one of my favorite books, but because he was a fascinating, educated man with whom I share many interests.
First and foremost, he was a Christian. While I don't agree with everything he believed (he was Catholic), the basis of our faith is the same, and that is what counts in the end anyway. His faith permeated all that he said and did; one biographer said that it was impossible to have a conversation with him that did not quickly and naturally turn to Tolkien's beliefs. I've read some of his letters and it's true - there's hardly one that does not mention GOD in some way. In his writings, one of the passages I like is from a letter to his son: "as souls with free-will we are, as it were, so placed as to face (or be able to face) God. But God is (so to speak) also behind us, supporting, and nourishing us (as being creatures). The bright point of power where that life-line, that spiritual umbilical cord touches: there is our Angel, facing two ways to God behind us in the direction we cannot see, and to us. But of course do not grow weary in facing God, in your free right and strength (both provided ‘from behind’ as I say). If you cannot achieve inward peace, and it is given to few to do so (least of all to me) in tribulation, do not forget that the aspiration for it is not a vanity, but a concrete act...If you don’t do so already, make a habit of the ‘praises’. I use them much...If you have these by heart you never need for words of joy."
Tolkien's faith was a genuine one. He was uncompromising, alienating some of his closest friends because of his strong convictions, but also winning friends to CHRIST because of them. It hurt him that people did not think of 'The Lord of the Rings' as a Christian work, as he felt it flowed from his Catholocism. The first part of his book 'The Silmarillion,' which tells of the first age of Middle Earth, is about the creation of Middle Earth, and is a beautiful analogy to the true Story of Creation. While the rest of the book is hard to read, I do recommend the first section, 'Ainulindalë,' to even non-Tolkien fans. (I made both my mother and my sister read it, and I think they each got something out of it. Don't correct me if I'm wrong, didder - I like to think you did.) I got a lot from it.
I would love to have the chance to discuss Tolkien's faith with him. Especially the areas in which we disagree. I feel I could learn much. He was a brilliant thinker, the kind we don't have anymore (I'll get into that more later). I would appreciate that.
Here ends this section.
If I could meet anyone in all history (except for Bible people cuz while they may be true, those tend to be cliche answers), I think it would be John Ronald Reuel Tolkien. Not because he's the author of one of my favorite books, but because he was a fascinating, educated man with whom I share many interests.First and foremost, he was a Christian. While I don't agree with everything he believed (he was Catholic), the basis of our faith is the same, and that is what counts in the end anyway. His faith permeated all that he said and did; one biographer said that it was impossible to have a conversation with him that did not quickly and naturally turn to Tolkien's beliefs. I've read some of his letters and it's true - there's hardly one that does not mention GOD in some way. In his writings, one of the passages I like is from a letter to his son: "as souls with free-will we are, as it were, so placed as to face (or be able to face) God. But God is (so to speak) also behind us, supporting, and nourishing us (as being creatures). The bright point of power where that life-line, that spiritual umbilical cord touches: there is our Angel, facing two ways to God behind us in the direction we cannot see, and to us. But of course do not grow weary in facing God, in your free right and strength (both provided ‘from behind’ as I say). If you cannot achieve inward peace, and it is given to few to do so (least of all to me) in tribulation, do not forget that the aspiration for it is not a vanity, but a concrete act...If you don’t do so already, make a habit of the ‘praises’. I use them much...If you have these by heart you never need for words of joy."
Tolkien's faith was a genuine one. He was uncompromising, alienating some of his closest friends because of his strong convictions, but also winning friends to CHRIST because of them. It hurt him that people did not think of 'The Lord of the Rings' as a Christian work, as he felt it flowed from his Catholocism. The first part of his book 'The Silmarillion,' which tells of the first age of Middle Earth, is about the creation of Middle Earth, and is a beautiful analogy to the true Story of Creation. While the rest of the book is hard to read, I do recommend the first section, 'Ainulindalë,' to even non-Tolkien fans. (I made both my mother and my sister read it, and I think they each got something out of it. Don't correct me if I'm wrong, didder - I like to think you did.) I got a lot from it.
I would love to have the chance to discuss Tolkien's faith with him. Especially the areas in which we disagree. I feel I could learn much. He was a brilliant thinker, the kind we don't have anymore (I'll get into that more later). I would appreciate that.
Here ends this section.
posted by melilotnfosco | 4:00 PM
4 Comments:
i read this without even noticing the 'melilot classic' in the title. the first thing i noticed, though, was that you'd used that picture of tolkien before.
like you said in one of my comments - "shows how well we all read each others' posts".
That's so cool that his faith was obvious from every conversation he had. I want to be more like that! I also like how honest he seems, like when he was talking about not attaining inward peace. Someday we will get to meet him! :)
Thanks for sharing a classic! I wasn't around (the blogosphere) back then, so it's nice to read it now. And I think it is great that you have a hero - I think that's something that's a little hard to find these days.
I love hearing about his faith and it saddens me when people who don't not know much about his character call it into question.
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