ALUmnus wrote:Dude, you think anything that might possibly have even the slightest hint/influence/taint of Christianity is a bad thing. Tolkien did not write "Christian" literature. He was about making fictional history influenced by his study of mythology. Of course there are Christian themes in the stories, but he stressed that he was not about allegories. And if you're writing history, it's not going to be about rainbows and butterflies, it's about life, and written by someone living through the World Wars.
Wow, did you read the wrong thing into what I said. First of all, I don't know how you could read "Tolkien" when I used the words "sweet" and "mincing". When I was talking about 'Christian' literature, I was referencing Sly's comment and the sappy "uplifting" crap that abounds on the shelves of your standard Lifeway and Zondervan store. I wasn't even remotely talking about Tolkien at that point. My problem with "Christian" stuff is this: too often, quality is sacrificed for marketability; too often, complexity of character and story is sacrificed for simplicity of message; too often, Christians gladly accept and fawn over what wouldn't have a prayer of being published or produced in the secular world simply because "it might help lead some poor soul to Christ". If you really need an example of what I'm talking about, look up anything with the words
Left Behind attached to it.
(aside -- yes, I am well aware of what that particular series has paid for at our beloved alma mater, what's your point?). I'm sick of that crap. As for Tolkien, I freely admit it, I don't like his books. It has nothing do with anything that may or may not be allegorically Christian, but rather because I find them too tedious to read. I do, however, like his movies.
Is this mercy-killing or cross-pollenation?
Only the strawberry knows.
- By LU Armchair coach
- By thecomeback