Re: CHAT: Religions (was: Visible planets)

--- John Cowan <cowan@...> wrote:
> Costentin Cornomorus scripsit:
>
> > I have no such thought at all! Did not JRRT,
> > known to be a good Catholic, not dream up
> > "pagan religions"?
>
> Not really.  The only really pagan religion is
> the worship of Morgoth
> that took over in the waning days of Numenor,
> and we have few details
> about it.  The so-called Gods are in fact
> angels, and the Ainulindale
> is not really incompatible with Catholicism.
While it may be "compatible" in some strange
sense, it's not Catholocism. And that's rather
the point. Some Christian denominations are even
more extremely strict regarding just how evil
even Tolkien's creation is.

I do not subscribe to those beliefs (obviously),
and so am free to devise any religious forms for
my cultures. I also have no angst over where in
my psyche those beliefs come from, neither do I
care whether or nor I choose to adapt any of
those beliefs to my own practice or ideology.

Some people may have concerns, and I simply think
Tolkien is a good example of a good practicing
Catholic that manages to both retain his
Catholocism in full and create both wonderful and
terrible systems in Middle Earth.

[Also note that "pagan religions" was in quotes.
That for two reasons. Of course, I'm quoting on
the one hand; but also I want to differentiate
and distinguish the "pagan religions" of our mind
from real Pagan religions than exist or have
existed in the primary world.]

Padraic.





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