A GENTLE DISAGREEMENT
Subject: The Arwen Feature
Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2002
From: Scott Grimsley

Dear Greg,

I just wanted to gently disagree with your take on the changes made to the character of Arwen in the LOTR film. To me the changes were a copout made to placate an audience that didn't really need placating. You emphasised points that made her more faithful to the original. To me however, the movie portrayed her as a kinder gentler Xena Warrior Princess, and this cheapened her character in my mind. In the books, which I love dearly, the elves hold a place of mystery and power. Arwen's sacrifice and her relationship to Aragorn are not as warrior buddies well met on the battlefield, but as a man who "aims high, even for the son of kings" and an immortal who sacrifices her safe and happy future in the Blessed Realm for love.

The reason I think that there was no real need for this transformation is that it is redundant and unnecessary. Strong female characters already exist in the form of Galadriel, who next to Gandalf is portrayed as the mightiest being on the side of good in Middle Earth, and Eowyn the shield maiden, who now will seem like a rehash.

There are two other strong beefs I have with the picture i.e. places where they got it completely wrong. One was the Council of Elrond, which was given short shrift to say the least and did not spell out the dilemna of the free peoples adequately. The other place was at the Falls of Rauros, where Aragorn becomes Boromir Lite, also lusting after the ring. The brooding, introspective, full of self-doubt Aragorn is also a change I could do without. The whole idea in the book was that Frodo needed to decide the course of the company and that Aragorn fully supported whatever decision he would make.

All this being said, I thought the movie was visually stunning and I enjoyed it, though not as much as I might have. One of the great things about Tolkien is his profound understanding of the workings of evil and its ability to corrupt even when being used with good intentions. This is a message that the postmodern world can definitely use, and I am glad that it is being communicated.

Sincerely,
Scott Grimsley

Response: Okay, in all honesty, Scott, I agree with you. But I also know that a director has many many difficult choices to make in trying to bring something so complex to the screen; so in my monthly features I'm trying to be generous and kind, knowing that if I were to tackle the same job as Jackson, I'm sure that fans would have MUCH more to complain about! I am a bit concerned, though, like you, about how Eowyn will come off... -Greg

IN DEFENSE OF TOLKIEN
Subject: That Darned Essay
Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2002
From: Nikki Morrell

I just read the essay concerning Tolkien's LOTR. I would like to comment that in college (a private Presbyterian college) we read LOTR in a class called Oxford Christian Writers, which studied Oxford writers who were devoutly Christian and integrated their faith into their work. We discussed in detail how Tolkien's obvious faith helped him to create this amazing work. If you re-read the books with his religious background and love of his own Christianity in mind, you will find many references, symbolism, and connotations to Christianity. I have heard too many people (of late) accusing Tolkien as teaching witchcraft and the black arts. But as usual, this is coming from people who have never read his work and base their uninformed opinions on one or two words associated with the LOTR: magic, wizard, etc.

Just thought you might like to know and wanted to share my opinion!

Response: Thanks for weighing in, Nikki. Hopefully this month's LOTR feature will clear up some folks' concerns about wizardry and "magic" in the books. -Greg

KUDOS!
Subject: Wizardry and April's Monthly Feature
Date: Thu, 25 Apr 2002
From: MelDMarshmallow

Personally, I think that all of your opinion are correct and I'm really thankful that there's someone like you to make a web sight about the Christian World View about books and music that we have today. For the question "why would Tolkien have wizardry in this book..." Tolkien might have been trying to make a history/myth of Briton like Norway and countries around it with had wonderful stories about what "happened" before or during medieval times. Sure Great Briton had stories of knights and about wizards, but it didn't have much fantasy. Of course this is only my feelings, and of course he could have left out the hole wizard part out. But I am not influenced to go and try to be like Gandalf because of the book. That could be because I am strong with my faith in God and I know that it is wrong. Thankyou for the wonderful job that you did with your web sight. I really enjoyed it and I liked the fact that you had Bible verses in it!

Love in Christ
~Melissa A.K.A Mel

Response: You've anticipated the subject of this month's feature, Mel! Your guess about Tolkien wanting to create a "history/myth" for England is spot-on, though Tolkien would have made a distinction between "England" and "Britain." What did you think of the wizards in the LOTR movie? -Greg

GANDALF & ST. PAUL
Subject: April's Monthly Feature
Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2002
From: Dave Vosburg

I would like to submit the following comparison for consideration:

Gandalf's confrontation with Wormtongue in Edoras vs. Paul's confrontation with Elymas/Bar-Jesus in Paphos (Acts 13:6-12)

• -Both Wormtongue and Elymas are deceitful counselors to political leaders.
• -Both Gandalf and Paul speak the truth in love, even though they risk a possible negative response from the counseled leader.
• -Both Wormtongue and Elymas are struck down by Gandalf/Paul.
• -Both Gandalf and Paul bring Theoden/Sergius Paulus to the light, as it were, with major salutory effects.

NOT SCARY
Subject: Fellowship_of_the_Ring_movie
Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2002
From: JDM

 Hi there. I heard from some people that the Lord of the Rings movie was scary. It's not so. Even if Mike Schulkowsky says that he screamed like a girl and closed his eyes and said it's scary it's not. If you read the books and understand what it's all about it's not scary. You can predict what's going to be happening and when. They did a very good job of making this movie.
JDM.

A PRAYER OF THANKS
Subject: Elijah Wood
Date: Tue, 19 Mar 2002
From: MLF

Pastor Greg:

I have just found your site and I think it is wonderful. I would describe myself as a Christian believer, although certain sectarian folks might quibble with that description.

I was quite struck by Elijah Wood's interpretation of Frodo the first time I saw the movie. In the popular culture of Hollywood, a famous person matter of factly admitting to being a Christian (even an untraditional one) is as rare as mithril in Middle Earth.

Mindful of this, ever so often when I think about it, I say a prayer for him - for his continued faith and guidance. It is the least I can do in appreciation for his evocative and memorable performance.

It occurs to me that others may want to do the same.

Thank you for offering this forum to express my beliefs and opinions.

Response: You are entirely welcome. And thank you for your reminder that prayer is a wonderful way to say "thanks!" -Greg

A ELBERETH, GILTHONIEL!
Subject: The Book Summaries
Date: Tue, 19 Mar 2002
From: Janet Georgiou

I have read all of Lord of the Rings and I think the Analyses of the books on your website are spot on. Tolkien hated allegory in all its forms (his words). It is unlikely then that he deliberately sought to produce it in these books. However, Tolkien believed that one should do all things to the glory of God and I believe that, whether He intended it or not, he has drawn heavily on what was almost certainly an extensive knowledge of the Bible to create this story. It seems to me that he couldn't help it. I also wondered whether, during his own times of quiet before God, he found himself speaking in tongues he did not understand. Being a professor in linguistic disciplines he would know that the language made sense, even if he didn't understand it; and in the Catholic church, to which he belonged, this phenomenon was not acknowledged to exist in these days. Was an actual experience of "speaking in tongues" the basis for Tolkien's Elven tongue, I wonder?

I look forward to reading further analysis of the rest of the story. Thank you!

Janet.

Response: I am not aware of any reference to Tolkien himself "speaking in tongues." It is interesting, though (particularly since his work preceded the charismatic movement in the Catholic Church), that more than once Frodo finds himself uttering Elvish words that he doesn't know, despite "understanding" the intent of his speech. I have elsewhere pondered whether the Professor would have understood this as a form of "speaking in tongues." He certainly seemed to find such utterances a form of spiritual connection and expression. - Greg

GREAT EXPLANATION
Subject: The Monthly Feature
Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002
From: Pastor Travis 

Thank you for your insight to the changes from the book to the movie.  It has clarified many of the thoughts of this change of plot in my mind.

Response: My pleasure!  Glad you have enjoyed our site.  -Greg

ONE MAN'S JUNK...
Subject: The Bulletin Board
Date: Sat, 9 Mar 2002
From: Stuart

Response: But, Stuart, we ENJOY analyzing everything to death!  Seriously, though, you are right:  the books, and movie, were created with the intent to be enjoyed as entertainment.  And I do, certainly, enjoy them in that way.  As a student of film and literature, though, I also enjoy trying to understand WHY they are so enjoyable, which is itself a source of great enjoyment.  Tolkien himself, though, would probably apologize for all of this pompous hullaballoo in his name...  -Greg

MIXED PRAISE
Subject: HollywoodJesus LOTR Coverage
Date: Thu, 7 Mar 2002
From: Charity

Dear Greg,

Admittedly I have not been a Tolkien fan through and through for a lengthy amount of time. I read The Hobbit in my youth and thought it all too steeped in magic to be ideal Christian fiction. My interest was only peaked into reading the first book of the trilogy itself last summer when I heard the movie was coming out. Since then I've read both following books and am planning to dive deeper into The Silmarillion.

I did not like your essay on whether or not The Lord of the Rings is a Christian work on the basis of the mythological characters and foundation for Middle Earth. But I also realize that no two people look alike and it's not necessary to agree to have an intelligent discourse. And there are probably much more capable Tolkien scholars to challenge this than I, but I will leave you with a few passing thoughts. Firstly we must understand that Tolkien wrote a book of fantasy not meant to be taken literally. In a sense, LotR is mythology. It was meant to be. However, Tolkien's belief was that mythology was a mere human attempt to create their own story reflective of the True Story, which is essentially that of Jesus Christ. As much as we dislike Greek or ancient mythology in general, there is always a lingering amount of truth to it.

I have no personal doubts in Tolkien's faith in God or his Christian roots, due to my knowledge of C.S. Lewis and The Inklings. I find the idea that someone could walk out of Lord of the Rings believing that there lingered not a spiritual truth in the entire film utterly inconceivable. To me, the film was overflowing with moral lessons, spiritual parallels, and instances of Truth; from Frodo accepting the Quest to Gandalf's death in Khazad-Dum and Galadriel, Boromir, and even Aragorn's ultimate temptation of the Ring (sin).

You covered one aspect of the film's undercurrent very nicely in your article on Arwen's selfless immortality. That a secular director with no straightforward faith in God (at least not from what I've seen of his other projects) could so profoundly express deep subjects like self-sacrifice and the weakness of the nature of sin, is nothing less than miraculous. That Arwen would utter a prayer convinces me that there must have been a Christian influence somewhere in this production, either in the writing crew or the producers themselves.

I believe that God had a hand in the making of this first film -- if not all three. Often we give him too little of credit in the entertainment industry, but occasionally a profoundly religious work such as Lord of the Rings slips through and suddenly we realize what we've nearly overlooked. The film went a long way in opening my eyes. I went a second time and then began to search out for myself what the hidden messages in the story were. Some are obvious -- like Gandalf's memorable words to Frodo in Moria about trusting in a Higher Design -- while others must be thought over carefully.

I strongly disagree in general about reading spiritual insights into movies where they were not intended, but feel that when addressing Tolkien it is more than responsible to do so, seeing as he was a Christian and did intend for The Lord of the Rings to reflect Truth. In that event, I appreciate your deep and well-written articles and often resource them to see what I have missed in my own exploration of Middle Earth. I look forward to the next one!

- Charity

PS: Reading back over some of the former posts, I had to comment on your remarking on Jackson being "irritating" by putting chapter titles into dialogue. Most Tolkien fans, including myself, found that aspect both paid homage to Tolkien AND was a lot of fun. :)

Response: I'm glad you can appreciate my intent, even though you may not agree.  That's very charitable (pun intended).  Particularly welcome is your observation of our general reluctance to see the hand of God in things.  If our eyes were truly open, we could see it everywhere.   -Greg

TWO CENTS, FOUR CENTS, SIXTH SENSE...
Subject: The Essay
Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2002
From: Glenham

My 2 cents? There is no more of the Christian God* in Tolkien's work or LOTR than there is in a box of cereal. :)

* Christian God = The Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. You cannot have one without the other. I do not believe that one can call any literary work 'Christian' without God playing an active role in the story. All throughout the bible God play a very active role... he does not hide behind magic and suggestion.

To answer the questions posted on the after the essay: Did this spiritual imagery find its way into The Lord of the Rings by design? Not by design on the Holy Spirit - The Holy Spirit will always point to Jesus and the Father (John 16:13-14)... neither of whom are in Tolkien's works.

Or was it simply part of Tolkien's cultural fabric, accidentally creeping into the text? Accidentally?

And what about the magic and wizardry? Bible says to put those who practice magic to death (Lev 20:27).. So this cannot be god inspired.

Is this really healthy spirituality that Tolkien presents? I believe that if it does not line up with the Scripture it cannot be healthy.. so no :)

For the record: I re-read the books before I went to see the movie. (These were the first fiction books that I have read, besides the Left Behind series that, since I started serving God 4 years ago. I made an exception to read them because of the 'Christian theme' - of which I found none.) I saw the movie and hated it. It was not even true to the book in things that could have been avoided... Arwen saving Frodo and causing the river to wash the Black Riders away (with magical chanting - I might as well have gone to see Harry Potter).

Anyway... love the essay. Thank you for writing it.

Glenham

Response: Thanks for interacting with the essay on such a complete level. I would caution you to be a little less conclusive about where one can find the Father, the Son, or the Spirit, however.  For example, without New Testament commentary, would you be able to find the Son in the story of Moses and the serpents in the wilderness?  The Pharisees missed the Son when He was standing right in their midst; and I doubt that we are so different from the Pharisees today.  And by your own standard of measure -- lining up with scripture -- are you so sure that the Left Behind series is "healthy?"  -Greg

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