Inside Look @ The Lord of the Rings

by

Mike & Amy Nappa

FAST LOOK:

The Lord of the Rings fantasy trilogy, written by J.R.R. Tolkien, was first published in 1954-1955 and has most recently been remade into a blockbuster trio of films. The first movie, The Fellowship of the Ring, released last December. The next two are scheduled for release in 2002 and 2003.

INSIDE SCOOP:

A dusty old fantasy story about a Hobbit (Frodo Baggins) and his adventures through Middle-Earth—a place where wizards, elves, dwarves, orcs, and trolls roam—became last year’s most-anticipated movie release. Young Frodo, the bearer of a magical golden ring, joined his companions on a journey to return the ring to its place of origin and thus prevent hideous evil.

When The Fellowship of the Ring premiered, it culminated not just a year of marketing muscle, but also nearly five decades of cultural influence. Spearheaded by a new wave of children who first clamored for Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings books have sold over 100 million copies, inspired a $300 million movie budget, spawned a slew of toys and ancillary products, and created a resurgent Hobbit-forming fan base with near-religious fervency. J.R.R. Tolkien’s imaginative lore boasts a tremendous amount of fans in the Christian community as well—but is not without its detractors.

Those who mistrust Rings particularly worry about its appeal and influence on children. They voice several concerns: 1) As in the Harry Potter series, Rings, is rife with witchcraft and wizardry, even including “spells” in the text, and subtly encouraging children’s fascination with potentially occultist practices. 2) The fantasy characters in Rings are so appealing, they will lead children to delve deeper into fantasy entertainment with occultist ties, such as Dungeons and Dragons and Magic: The Gathering.  3) As the PG-13 rated The Fellowship of the Rings demonstrated visually, the story is remarkably violent for children’s entertainment, with pitched, and deadly battles against all manner of frightening creatures. 4) Though written by a Christian, Rings contains virtually no Christian content and only forced allegorical comparisons that could apply to most any story with a hero and a villain.

Christian fans of Rings, however, often fall strongly on the other side of the debate. They point out that: 1) Although Rings isn’t overtly Christian, the author’s Christian worldview is apparent from beginning to end. 2) The witchcraft of Rings is fantasy—nothing that would be confused with real-life Wiccan practices. 3) Rings is no more violent than a Saturday-morning TV show, and though it may be unsettling for younger children, mature kids (and their parents) shouldn’t have any objection to the films’ content. 4) Rings is an example of timeless, superbly crafted fiction that deserves to be enjoyed—and discussed—in a family setting.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THE LORD OF THE RINGS

 “The Lord of the Rings is…a work by a devout Christian that never mentions God and has only one reference to religious practice (and that is entirely nonsectarian).”

—Andrew Ohehir, scholar and Salon magazine contributing writer

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“Don’t miss the significance of the tall, dark man you’ll find smoking a pipe in a dark corner…a stranger wrapped in a green cloak, his face hidden in the shadows…This ‘Strider’—Aragorn son of Arathorn—can be compared to Christ in a very important way...It wouldn’t be going to far to call him ‘Messianic.’”

—Jim Ware, author

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 “The Lord of the Rings is not, as some have suggested, a covert allegory of the gospel. Tolkien clearly denied that idea...Tolkien was telling a story, not proclaiming a message.”

—Kurt Bruner, author

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“No one ever influenced Tolkien—you might as well try to influence a bander-snatch…Here [in The Lord of the Rings] are beauties which pierce like swords or burn like cold iron; here is a book that will break your heart.”

—C.S. Lewis, Christian fantasy writer and friend of J.R.R. Tolkien

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“ God is the Lord, of angels, and of men—and of elves.”

—J.R.R. Tolkien

LOOKING INSIDE…:      

Use these questions to spark family discussion about The Lord of the Rings:

---Why do you suppose The Lord of the Rings has been so popular for so long?

---The Lord of the Rings was undoubtedly written by a Christian. Does that make it a Christian story? Why or why not?

---How can you determine whether or not fantasies like The Lord of the Rings are healthy or unhealthy entertainment for your family members?

[SIDEBAR]

If members of your family like The Lord of the Rings then you may want to check out:

---Finding God in the Lord of the Rings by Kurt Bruner and Jim Ware (Tyndale House Publishers).

Better suited to older family members (such as teens and parents), this interesting book delves into Tolkien’s masterpiece, unearthing possible Christian symbolism within The Lord of the Rings. Devotional in nature, with short, easily readable chapters, Bruner and Ware look to the story’s characters, plot, and history to provide clues for faith-based living. Enjoyable—and thoughtful—reading for the serious Middle Earth fans in your household.

---The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald (Alfred A. Knopf Publishers).

The classic fantasy novel from Scottish theologian, George MacDonald, that’s believed to be one of J.R.R. Tolkien’s childhood favorites. Originally published in the late 1800s, this follows the adventures of Princess Irene and her peasant-born buddy, Curdie. They battle goblins and unravel fantastic mysteries like miraculously burning roses and a thread so fine it’s nearly invisible, yet so strong it can lead the way back home. A delight as a read-aloud book for the whole family.

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[BIO LINE] Mike & Amy Nappa are renowned cultural commentators, best-selling and award-winning authors, and creators of the Internet magazine for families, www.FamilyFans.com