From: Roly Sookias (rolysookias@talk21.com)
Date: Tue Jan 08 2002 - 05:17:37 MST
In response to Richard's post, I'd like to say that although I agree with
the idea of a breaking with the old mystic ways, religion is not the path to
take - people should think for themselves and try to make the world better
individually, although a unification in intent would be useful. By a
religion more suited to our own time what are you implying? - something like
virus or what? Also, I would like to state that my reason for enjoying and
wanting to read the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit is not so much the old
magica nad mysticism, but the morals unearthed and the way that (between the
"good" characters at any rate) there seems to be very little of the
antagonism we experience in today's commercial world - people set off to do
the RIGHT thing (but only when it's clear that it is RIGHT) without asking
what's in it for them (although of course their desires are always
ultimately selfish). I feel the trilogy evokes our times very well too, as
it is clear that much of the wonder and magic of the ancient world of the
elves is lost forever and even if evil is vanquished, cannot be reclaimed. I
feel that this is a similar situation to that in which we are in now of
nostalgia for the old and "wonderful" whilst passing into an altogether more
ordinary, but no less safe or healthy world. It evokes this sense of loss
accutely and this may in fact relate to Tolkien's own childhood where he was
forced to leave a dreamy idyllic country village by the death of his mother
and enter into the "real" world.
I realise that in LOTR the old world is far more hospitable and
wonderful than Earth EVER was, but it is clearly as similar situation. In
fact it is very much like the old, pre-scientific earth as many people
remember or imagine it to have been, despite hard factual evidence that
proves it was by no means so wonderful. Despite the fact that I know that I
think I know (sorry about that phrase, I hope you understand it!) what the
old (and I'm talking Earth, not Arda now!) world was really like, I have to
admit feeling, as many others do, that perhaps once upon a time, a VERY VERY
long time ago it wasn't as disimilar to Arda before the coming of the
darkness. I know this to be false, but the vague christian morals and
stories on which I was raised (at state school - my parents are atheist)
perhaps give me this "odd" inclination. Also of course there are the tales
of the "olden days" from Britain and Europe on which LOTR was based, which
are similar in many ways to Arda's first age, or perhaps to the wars fought
in Arda since that distant, wonderful time. Actually, it could just be that
as an atheist, the part of my brain involved in religion might be in need of
some faith or belief to latch onto and tolkien's sagas seem to provide that.
Who knows! Any comments?
P.S: sorry I havn't visited that site with story yet, will do so ASAP!!!
Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo. Roly/Orly/Vinyacálë.
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