Kurt Bruner - Finding God in the Lord of the Rings

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Finding God in The Lord of the Rings

Copyright 2001 by Kurt Bruner; copyright 2021 by Kurt Bruner and Jim Ware. All rights reserved.

Cover illustration by Lindsey Bergsma. Copyright Tyndale House Ministries. All rights reserved.

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ISBN 978-1-4964-4748-7

Original edition published in 2001 under ISBN 978-1-4143-1279-8

Build: 2021-04-21 14:17:12 EPUB 3.0

To all who search for light in Middle-earth:

ala arendel engla beorhtast

Ofer Middangeard monnum sended.

(Hail, Erendil, brightest of angels

Sent to men over Middle-earth)

It was a drizzly day in October 1999 when I first visited a little pub called the Eagle and Child in a remote corner of Oxford. Like thousands of other Middle-earth enthusiasts, I wanted to take a selfie sitting where two of my literary heroes had routinely gathered half a century earlier.

In London for a Focus on the Family Radio Theatre recording session, I had carved out a day and headed to Oxford in order to locate the pub. I expected it to be more obvious. (In the United States it would have all the garish trappings of a tourist attraction.) By the looks of the place, youd never know that it had been frequented by such famous writers as C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. I found no sign marking the table they had graced while critiquing one anothers work. Apparently, it was no big deal to the present managementwhich was more interested in whether or not I was buying a drink. But it was quite a big deal to me. I was standing in the very pub where the writing group called the Inklings had met during the days when such classics as The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings were taking form! Some people visit Graceland to celebrate the memory of Elvis. I went to Oxford to celebrate two Christian men whose writings have impacted the faith and imaginations of millions.

J. R. R. Tolkien, who helped C. S. Lewis on his journey to Christian faith, wrote The Lord of the Rings, the epic fantasy that is estimated to have sold more than 150 million copies In 2001, New Line Cinema released Peter Jacksons first big-screen film adaptation. As of this writing, fans will soon be carried into the Second Age of Middle-earth when tales of Tolkiens The Silmarillion are brought to life, compliments of one of the highest production budgets of all time.

People of all faiths have enjoyed the adventures of Frodo, Sam, Gandalf, and others on a quest to save the Shire from impending doomand with good reason. The craft and creativity behind this wonderful fantasy rank it among the greatest literary works ever penned. But many Tolkien fans may not realize that it was a strong Christian faith that inspired and informed the writers imagination. In fact, many hard-line believers have been hesitant to embrace a creative work that includes mythical figures, magic rings, and supernatural themes. This is unfortunate because the transcendent truths of Christianity bubble up throughout this story, baptizing our imaginations with realities better experienced than studied. Like the works of C. S. Lewis, Tolkiens myth and fantasy can open the hearts back door when the front door is locked. As Tolkien explained, I believe that legends and myths are largely made of truth, and indeed present aspects of it that can only be received in this mode. The result has been that millions, many of whom reject formal religion, have encountered realities that flourish in the unexplored regions of Christian belief.

The adventures in The Lord of the Rings take place in the Third Age of Middle-earth, a land given birth and form in J. R. R. Tolkiens imagination. It is an ancient world thriving with men, elves, dwarves, and hobbits who live in relative harmony while enjoying the blessings of peace and prosperity. Like us, they know the joys and duties of life in any era: hard work, growing children, curious neighbors, and festive celebrations.

The hobbits and other inhabitants of Middle-earth have a rich heritage of songs, ballads, legends, and folklore that infuse otherwise mundane lives with meaning. Some of the songs tell tales of events from the First and Second Ages, including the origin and rise of an evil ruler named Sauron and his dark tower in the ancient land of Mordor. But there are more happy legends of noble warriors and the council of the wise who freed the world from the madness of the worlds dark enemy, Melkor, to establish a land of peace and goodness. Whether the stories are history or myth is little contemplated among the hobbits as they go about their busy routines. More recent stories have taken center stage and become bigger-than-life, such as how Bilbo Baggins obtained long life and great wealth. The friendly, simple hobbit had been part of a risk-filled adventure many years earlier, including the time he found a magic ring during his famous encounter with the despicable Gollum. His full story is told in another classic, The Hobbit.

One of the most charming aspects of Tolkiens mythical realm is that, though clearly fictional, it has the feel of a time and region that were once real, possibly long-forgotten parts of our own ancient history. This is no accident. Its creator went to great lengths to shape a fantasy world that consistently reflects the realities framing the story in which people of all ages have lived. As a Christian, Tolkien understood that our lives are part of a grand drama that both transcends and explains our experiences. The dramas narrative infuses meaning into scenes and events that would otherwise seem arbitrary and meaningless. Tolkien saw the adventure of our lives, like the adventure of his characters, as part of a story that began once upon a time and is moving toward its eventual ever after.