World Religions for Hobbit Fans


This is kind of experimental. Here are some of Tolkien's quotes that I find inspirational. (And some that other people have sent in.) The topic headings are links to World Scripture , a Web site (and book) by the International Religious Foundation. They have gathered the thoughts of the world's great religous teachings upon various topics to show both their unity and their diversity. You can click on each heading to go to the World Scripture page and read what the different religions say about that topic.

Please let me know what you think.

Thank you very much, Steve Dufour

H = The Hobbit, FOTR = The Fellowship of the Ring, TTT = The Two Towers, ROTK = The Return of the King (Ballantine Books Paperbacks) S = The Silmarillon (Houghton Mifflin Hardbound)

Sovereign and Omnipotent

Then Iluvatar spoke, and he said : "Mighty are the Ainur, and mightiest among them is Melkor; but that he may know, and all the Ainur, that I am Iluvatar, those things that ye have sung, I will show them forth, that ye may see what ye have done. And thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined." S p17

A World of Transience

This thing all things devours:
Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;
Gnaws iron, bites steel;
Grinds hard stones to meal;
Slays king, ruins town,
And beats high mountain down. H p77

Moral Law

"Good and ill have not changed since yesteryear; nor are they one thing among Elves and Dwarves and another among Men. It is a man's part to discern them, as much in the Golden Wood as in his own home." Aragorn TTT p50

Family

Fili and Kili had fallen defending him with shield and body, for he was their mother's elder brother. H p275

"Well, you've wasted a year, so why wait longer?" Rose Cotton ROTK p376

Sanctity of Nature

"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." Gandalf FOTR p339

Eternal Life

"Behold! we are not bound for ever to the circles of the world, and beyond them is more than memory, Farewell!" Aragorn ROTK Apendix A p428

Demonic Powers

Last of all is set the name of Melkor, He who arises in Might. But that name he has forfeited; and the Noldor, who among the Elves suffered most from his malice, will not utter it, and they name him Morgoth, the Dark Enemy of the World. S p31

"Yes, this is Mordor," said Frodo. "Just one of its works. Saruman was doing its work all the time, even when he thought he was working for himself. And the same with those that Saruman tricked, like Lotho." ROTK p367

Slander, Gossip, and Foul Speech

But Orcs and Trolls spoke as they would, without love of words or things; and their language was actually more degraded and filthy than I have shown it. I do not suppose that any will wish for a closer rendering, though models are easy to find. Much of the same sort of talk can still be heard among the orc-minded; dreary and repetitive with hatred and contempt, too long removed from good to retain even verbal vigour, save in the ears of those to whom only the squalid sounds strong. ROTK Appendix F p514

Prayer

Pardon he asked for the Noldor and pity for their great sorrows, and mercy upon Men and Elves and succour in their need. And his prayer was granted. S p249

Persecution and Martyrdom

Now it is a strange thing, but things that are good to have and days that are good to spend are soon told about, and not much to listen to; while things that are uncomfortable, palpitating, and even gruesome, may make a good tale, and take a deal of telling anyway. H p60

Liberation

The windows of her house look outward from the walls of the world. S p28

Universal Salvation

"Yet there are other men and other lives, and time still to come. And for me, I pity even his slaves." Gandalf ROTK p105

Judge Not

"Deserves death! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give that to them? Then be not too eager to deal out death in the name of justice, fearing for your own safety. Even the wise cannot see all ends." Gandalf TTT p281

Renunciation of Wealth

"One who cannot cast away a treasure at need is in fetters." Aragorn TTT p215

Humility

"'Elves and Dragons!' I says to him. 'Cabbages and potatoes are better for me and you. Don't go getting mixed up in the business of your betters, or you'll land in trouble too big for you', I says to him. And I might say it to others." Hamfast Gamgee FOTR p47

"I will take the Ring," he said, "though I do not know the way." Frodo Baggins FOTR p324

"For even the very wise cannot see all ends." Gandalf FOTR p93

Love Your Enemy

And the Dwarf, hearing the names given in his own ancient tongue, looked up and met her eyes; and it seemed to him that he looked suddenly into the heart of an enemy and saw there love and understanding. FOTR p461

Control Anger

"Have a care to lay thine axe to the right tree." Galadriel TTT p136

Call and Awakening

"Such questions cannot be answered," said Gandalf. "You may be sure that it was not for any merit that others do not possess: not for power or wisdom, at any rate. But you have been chosen, and you must therefore use such strength and heart and wits as you have." FOTR p95

The Man for Others

"Here none but myself shall set foot, lest you fall under the wrath of the Valar. But that peril I will take on myself alone, for the sake of the Two Kindreds." Earendil S p248

Rejected by the World

All that is gold does not glitter. FOTR p212

Few people knew or wanted to know about his deeds and adventures. ROTK p377

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