Does The Lord of the Rings Teach Salvation By Works?
The authors of Tolkien's Ordinary Virtues and J. R. R. Tolkien's Sanctifying Myth talk about whether Tolkien was too ignorant of evil and other subjects.
Brad Birzer and Mark Eddy Smith | posted 12/01/2002 12:00AM
4 of 4
Finally, I'd like to mention the movie. In J. R. R. Tolkien's Sanctifying Myth you speak glowingly of Peter Jackson's first installment. My own appreciation for it was enhanced by your analysis. It was indeed glorious, and captured some of the wonder I felt when I first discovered Middle-earth. But I have one bone to pick with it: I do not believe for a moment that Aragorn would willingly have let Frodo journey toward Mordor alone. I have other quibbles, as is my duty as an LOTR fan, but this seems unforgivable. What do you think?
Yours,
Mark
Tomorrow: Hobbits don't vote—Tolkien's dislike for "radical democracy"
Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.
Related Elsewhere
Part one of this conversation appeared on our website yesterday.
Today's Film Forum rounds up what Christian critics and others are saying about The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.
Earlier articles on the Lord of the Rings movies include:
Soul Wars, Episode Two | The second Lord of the Rings film raises the spiritual stakes (Dec. 18, 2002)
Books & Culture Corner: Saint Frodo and the Potter Demon | The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter series spring from the same source (Feb. 18, 2002)
Film Forum: The Fellowship of the Raves | Critics grope for superlatives for The Fellowship of the Ring. (Dec. 21, 2001)
Film Forum: Gandalf and the Gamblers | As everyone talks about The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, critics also get around to reviewing Ocean's Eleven, In the Bedroom, and The Business of Strangers. (Dec. 13, 2001)
Film Forum: First Looks at a Feature Fantasy | Early reviews for Fellowship of the Ring are in. (Dec. 6, 2001)
Lord of the Megaplex | The onscreen Fellowship of the Ring launches a new wave of Tolkienmania (Nov. 11, 2001)
Earlier articles on Tolkien include:
Christian History Corner: 9/11, History, and the True Story | Wartime authors J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis help put 9/11 in perspective (Sept. 13, 2002)
Christian History Corner: Intro to the Inklings | C. S. Lewis's intellect was stimulated at one of the most fascinating extracurricular clubs ever (May 18, 2001)
Our sister publication Books & Culture asked in its January/February 2002 issue if Tolkien should be acknowledged as the foremost author of the twentieth century.
RSS Feeds
Audio
Twitter
share this page
E-mail
Print
Post
Subscribe to Christianity Today magazine today!
