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The Lord of the Rings is the touchstone modern but its Christian underpinnings have at times been . Wood fully reveals Tolkien's sacramental themes: hope can be found in the midst of despair, charity can overcome vengeance, and faith can spring out of weakness. 184 pages, softcover.
Now brought to the big screen, J.R.R. Tolkien's three-volume fantasy novel has
been continuously popular since its original publication in 1954. A devout
Catholic, the Oxford don was at the same time enamored of the ancient Norse
pagan tales. While many see the trilogy as simply a pagan story with little or
no hint of Christianity, both of these authors argue that the book has a very
definite Christian message-a message that Tolkien himself said was fundamental
to the work. Wood's (religion, Baylor Univ.) book, which comes from the
publisher of several other "Gospel According to" books, argues that Tolkien's
is a deeply Christian work, but since Tolkien disliked allegory, the
Christian message is seen in the plot and the imagery. He finds in the story
portrayals of the traditional Christian virtues of faith, hope, and love and
offers a "theological reflection" on the epic, concentrating particularly on
the question of evil. Dickerson (English, Middlebury Coll.; The Finnsburg
Encounter) takes a somewhat less religious approach, focusing more on the
moral dimensions of the story and the idea of free will. He argues that
Tolkien's interest is in showing that moral victory is more important than
military victory and that the novel's greatest heroes are those who remain
true to their calling, not those who win battles. He deals with the question
of religion only at the end. Both authors consider book and film, and both
have a more ecumenical perspective than does Bradley Birzer in J.R.R.
Tolkien's Sanctifying Myth, which takes a more Catholic approach. Given what
is sure to be a renewed interest in Tolkien's epic, both would be worthwhile
purchases for all libraries.-Augustine J. Curley, Newark Abbey, NJ Copyright
2003 Reed Business Information.
Readers and fans of J.R.R. Tolkien have long been aware of the Christian
underpinnings of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Still, Tolkien has not been
without his religious critics, including those who have read a fascination
with paganism into the pre-Christian world of Tolkien's creation. Wood, a
professor of theology and literature at Baylor University, responds to those
critics with an academically sound retort of "Nonsense!" Acknowledging
straight off that Rings is devoid of any traces of "formal religion," Wood
offers countless pieces of evidence that support his analysis of the
full-fledged, deeply Christian theology of the mythological culture of
Middle-earth. And he does so convincingly. Even longtime fans of Rings who
have never questioned the books' Christian elements will undoubtedly discover
new insights, so rich is Wood's analysis of Tolkien's gospel. But be
forewarned: This is not a book for the casual reader. Rather, it is a somewhat
scholarly endeavor for those who want a more thorough understanding of the
underlying themes that have made The Lord of the Rings novels, as well as
Tolkien's other writings, such enduring treasures. Wood teases out those
themes-life and death, good and evil, courage and cowardice, mercy and justice
and of course, faith, hope, and love-to reveal the faith-filled nature of
Tolkien's theocentric and sacramental, albeit fictional, world. (Oct.)
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Average Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars(4.5 out of 5 stars)
1 of 1 Reviews Showing: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Ed Whittenburg (Rossville, GA), January 26, 2004 This is an insightful and engaging book that is very helpful as an interpretive guide to Tolkien's masterwork. It is of graduate school classroom caliber, but also accessible to the fan who understands there is more than just a great book or movie at work here.
Themes of hope, love, friendship, courage, providence, grace, and redemption are covered. I found myself eagerly anticipating what each section of this book would cover, and enjoyed taking another look at the book.
Though I have only read the Hobbit, and the Lord of the Rings in the past year, I have come to understand why it is the most important book from the 20th Century. These volumes have now taken their place in humility next to the Bible as the most influential writings in my life. Their lessons are as applicable to everyday life now as they were 50 years ago.
I am enjoying sharing these compelling stories with my children, and hope to share them someday with my grandchildren. I am currently trying to convince my wife, a high school English teacher, to set aside her preference for all things Shakespearean and begin her own mission...quest...thing. Write a review of The Gospel According to Tolkien: Visions of the Kingdom in Middle-earth
Availability: Only 1 in stock - order soon! Additional quantities may be backordered.
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