Posted on 01/03/2017 2:22:39 PM PST by fishtank
I was an atheist until i read “The Lord Of The Rings”
by Fredric Heidemann
December 16, 2016
I grew up in a loving, comfortable atheist household of professional scientists. My dad was a lapsed Catholic, and my mom was a lapsed Lutheran. From the time that I could think rationally on the subject, I did not believe in God. God was an imaginary being for which there was no proof. At best, God was a fantasy for half-witted people to compensate their ignorance and make themselves feel better about their own mortality. At worst, God was a perverse delusion responsible for most of the atrocities committed by the human race.
What broke the ice? What made me consider God’s existence a real possibility? The Lord of the Rings. I was a young teenager when I first read the Tolkien tomes, and it immediately captivated me.
(Excerpt) Read more at wordonfire.org ...
Frodo just decided to let Gollum lead them to the back stair into Mordor.
A little odd. Rings fans are weird, they just are. And ok, suppose you have some golden ring, you still think ill have to do what you say?
Odd book, odd story.
“The idea that being, beauty, and morality were merely productive illusions imposed on us through biological hardwiring crafted through the random process of natural selection rang hollow. “
Great article.
Tolkien was an amazing writer, and was instrumental in C.S. Lewis becoming a believer. Although I know that reportedly Tolkien said that the LoTR was not an allegory, he and his work definitely point toward God.
It's fiction, it was very well done. An entirety fictional world described and charted, a great plot, fun to read, and with the kind of heroes you wish we had more of in this world.
Rings fans are weird, they just are.
Lighten up Francis, projection can be a bad thing.........
I became a libertarian because of the Lord of the Rings. The ring is symbolic of having power over another human being.
Written any classics recently?
What convention would you rather go to:
(A) Star Wars
(B) Star Trek
(C) Lord of the Rings
(D) A Renaissance Festival
(E) None of the above.
He is the only character to ever yield up the One Ring willingly. Sam was incorruptible; he had no lust for power. He was simply the loyal servant, the stumbling, often obtuse friend who would always be there.
Sam is what our Lord would have us be. Dullards. Lunkheads. Bunglers. But as trusting in our hearts as children. Content to take whatever He deals us with grace, humility, and even gratitude. And selfless in our service.
Is LOTR a Christian allegory? You tell me ...
Tolkien was a Catholic, and one of the translators of the Jerusalem Bible. Also a good friend to C.S. Lewis.
Have you read the books? There is nothing in the books that says that the ring of power gives the wearer the power to control people.
The ring of power gave the Lord of Mordor the power to control those who wore the lesser rings.
Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men, doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.”.
I don’t think I have ever met anyone who read the books to the end that did not enjoy the series.
“Sam is what our Lord would have us be. Dullards. Lunkheads. Bunglers. But as trusting in our hearts as children. Content to take whatever He deals us with grace, humility, and even gratitude. And selfless in our service.”
Yes, well said.
Great for memes!
In college, my fraternity was nearly suspended after our Bilbo Baggins Birthday Bash party, on September 22nd oddly enough. I nearly cut off the dark lord’s thumb in a drunken sword fight with real swords. Good times.
I’ve read the LOTR Trilogy over 15 times
Read them first in high school
Loved the movies, but for somewhat different reasons
It's definitely Christian, but much deeper and better than mere allegory. "Narnia" is allegory.
Sam is definitely my favorite character.
I don’t believe there are many real atheists in the world. I think a lot of people claiming to be are either mad at God because they couldn’t have something they asked for (like losing a loved one), or they want be the total ruler of their lives without having to adhere to standards or answer to anyone for their actions.
Look around, look inside. There He is.
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