[Maximilian]

I didn't know that this article would generate this much discussion, but I'm very happy it has. Thank you Maximilian! ;-)

You're welcome. Inviting me to a party is a sure way of getting a good donnybrook going. It helps to break up the monotony (or to break up the monogamy as Archie Bunker would say).

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

I understand your reasoning, wanting to focus exclusively on LOTRs and not wanting to bring in Silmarillion, etc. While, I think it is important to bring in the whole universe he created, I understand the desire and the need to also look at each work in its own right. I will agree, that in LOTR there is no "God" to whom they pray, it is much more fate and predestintion even. That being said, there are undoubtedly Christian themes that are at play (Good and Evil, Weakness (sin) of Man (Boromir, Isildur, Denethor), and Gandalf really represents a number of those themes with his statements on mercy and his own physical and spiritual resurrection to complete the task at hand), but yes, no overt references to God.