J. R. R. Tolkien’s Sanctifying Myth: Understanding
Middle-Earth, by Bradley J. Birzer. Foreword by Joseph Pearce. (2002, 2004)
“Since the appearance of The Lord of the Rings in
1954, J.R.R. Tolkien’s works have always sold briskly, appealing to a wide and
diverse audience of intellectuals, religious believers, fantasy enthusiasts,
and science fiction aficionados. Now, Peter Jackson’s film version of Tolkien’s
trilogy—with its accompanying Rings-related paraphernalia and publicity—is
playing a unique role in the dissemination of Tolkien’s imaginative creation to
the masses. Yet, for most readers and viewers, the underlying meaning of
Middle-earth has remained obscure. Bradley Birzer has remedied that with this
fresh study. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s Sanctifying Myth: Understanding
Middle-earth, Birzer explains the surprisingly specific religious symbolism that
permeates Tolkien’s Middle-earth legendarium. He also explores the social and
political views that motivated the Oxford don, ultimately situating Tolkien
within the Christian humanist tradition represented by Thomas More and T. S.
Eliot, Dante and C. S. Lewis. Birzer argues that through the genre of myth
Tolkien created a world that is essentially truer than the one we think we see
around us every day, a world that transcends the colorless disenchantment of
our postmodern age. “A small knowledge of history,” Tolkien once wrote,
“depresses one with the sense of the everlasting weight of human iniquity.” As
Birzer demonstrates, Tolkien’s recognition of evil became mythologically
manifest in the guise of Ringwraiths, Orcs, Sauron, and other dark beings. But Tolkien
was ultimately optimistic: even weak, bumbling hobbits and humans, as long as
they cling to the Good, can finally prevail. Bradley Birzer has performed a
great service in elucidating Tolkien’s powerful moral vision.” – from the
publisher.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Religion. Literature. Softcover.
The Philosophy of Tolkien: The Worldview Behind ‘The Lord of
the Rings’, by Peter J. Kreeft. (2005)
Ignatius Press. “While nothing can equal or replace the
adventure in reading Tolkien’s masterwork, The Lord of the Rings,
Peter Kreeft says that the journey into its underlying philosophy can be
another exhilarating adventure.
Thus, Kreeft takes the reader on a voyage of discovery into the philosophical
bones of Middle earth. He organizes the philosophical themes in The Lord of the
Rings into 50 categories, accompanied by over 1,000 references to the text of
‘Lord’. Since many of the great questions of philosophy are included in the
50-theme outline, this book can also be read as an engaging introduction to
philosophy. For each of the philosophical topics in ‘Lord’, Kreeft presents
tools by which they can be understood.” – Amazon. Kreeft is of course the
amazing Catholic scholar and philosopher who has written on much of popular
culture from an ethical point of view.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Philosophy. Literary. Softcover.
Bilbo’s Journey: Discovering the Hidden Meaning of ‘The
Hobbit’, by Joseph Pearce. (2012)
“Discover the Christian meaning in The Hobbit. In ‘Bilbo's
Journey’ go beyond the dragons, dwarves, and elves, and discover the
surprisingly deep meaning of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic novel The Hobbit. Bilbo's
quest to find and slay the dragon Smaug is a riveting tale of daring and
heroism, but as renowned Tolkien scholar Joseph Pearce shows, it is not simply
Bilbo's journey, it is our journey too. It is the Christian journey of
self-sacrifice out of love for others, and abandonment to providence and grace.
In Bilbo's Journey: Discovering the Hidden Meaning of The Hobbit you will
relive the excitement of Tolkien's classic tale, while discovering the profound
Christian meaning that makes The Hobbit a truly timeless adventure.” – Google
Books. Has a sequel I need to get: ‘Frodo’s Journey’.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Religion. Literature. Softcover.
The Hobbit Party, by Jonathan Witt and Jay W. Richards.
Foreword by James V. Schall. (2014)
“The Vision of Freedom That Tolkien Got, and the West
Forgot.” Ignatius. “Anyone who has read The Hobbit and The Lord
of the Rings can gather that their author hated tyranny, but few know that
the novelist who once described himself as a hobbit “in all but size” was―even
by hobbit standards―a zealous proponent of economic freedom and small
government. There is a growing concern among many that the West is sliding into
political, economic, and moral bankruptcy. In his beloved novels of
Middle-Earth, J.R.R. Tolkien has drawn us a map to freedom. Scholar Joseph
Pearce, who himself has written articles and chapters on the political
significance of Tolkien’s work, testified in his book Literary Giants,
Literary Catholics, “If much has been written on the religious significance
of The Lord of the Rings, less has been written on its political significance―and
the little that has been written is often erroneous in its conclusions and
ignorant of Tolkien’s intentions…. Much more work is needed in this area, not
least because Tolkien stated, implicitly at least, that the political
significance of the work was second only to the religious in its importance.”
Several books ably explore how Tolkien’s Catholic faith informed his fiction.
None until now have centered on how his passion for liberty and limited
government also shaped his work, or how this passion grew directly from his
theological vision of man and creation. The Hobbit Party fills this
void. The few existing pieces that do focus on the subject are mostly written
by scholars with little or no formal training in literary analysis, and even
less training in political economy. Witt and Richards bring to The Hobbit
Party a combined expertise in literary studies, political theory,
economics, philosophy, and theology.” – Amazon.
Ranking: Essential.
File Code: Politics. Philosophy. Hardback.
Walking with Frodo, by Sarah Arthur. (2003)
“A devotional journey through ‘The Lord of the Rings.’”
“Tolkien's Lord of the Rings epic tale has long captivated readers with its
parallels to biblical truth. And now, Walking with Frodo looks
at the biblical themes found in the classic Lord of the Rings trilogy. The 18
devotions pair choices and characteristics (deception vs. honesty, light vs.
darkness, good vs. evil) displayed by characters in The Lord of the Rings and
bring to light what the Bible has to say.” – Amazon. Gabbin’ about God and
Gandalf.
Ranking: Keeper.
File Code: Religion. Devotional. Softcover.
Following Gandalf: Epic Battles and Moral Victory in ‘The
Lord of the Rings’, by Matthew Dickerson. (2003)
“While the success of J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings is
remarkable, it's certainly no mystery. In a culture where truth is relative and
morality is viewed as "old-fashioned," we eagerly welcome the message
of these tales: we have free will, our choices matter, and truth can be known.
Matthew Dickerson investigates the importance of free will and moral choices in
Tolkien's Middle Earth, where moral victory, rather than military success, is
the "real" story. He explores Christian themes throughout, including
salvation, grace, and judgment. Following Gandalf will delight veteran Tolkien
fans and offer new fans an impressive introduction to his major works. Engaging
and theologically thought-provoking, it will interest pastors, students,
seminarians, and lay readers.” – Amazon. A much better book (to my mind) than
‘Walking with Frodo’, they do have different aims; ‘Frodo’ is a devotional and
‘Gandalf’ is an explication of religious themes.
Ranking: Keeper.
File Code: Ethics. Religion. Literature. Softcover.
Finding God in ‘The Lord of the Rings’, by Kurt Bruner and
Jim Ware. (2001)
I must admit that I have not read this book. I have looked
into it. There are better analyses of the underlying religion beneath Tolkien;
this one impresses me as mainly a proselytizing tool. I cannot fault the
authors for their aims, but their style strikes me as a bit … well, frankly, of
using Tolkien as a bit of cheese to bring folks to God. Or perhaps reconcile
Christians to a work with wizards and magic? Either way, it seems to fall
between two stools.
Ranking: Keeper.
File Code: Religion. Literature. Hardback.
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