Guest post by author Alicia Willis
I suppose most of you are staring blankly at the computer screen. What is “Christian” occult? You may be surprised to learn it is all around us.
Let me lay out our foundation. As born-again Christians, we believe the Bible is the inspired (God breathed) Word of God. Our principles for life are found there and there alone. And anything that does not measure up to God’s sacred instructions within His Word are things we have no business partaking in.
We are all agreed thus far, correct? (Come on, let me hear a good hearty Amen! That’s better…)
Moving on, I think we also all agree that Satan wants nothing more than to corrupt what is good, holy, acceptable, and godly. After all, Satan cannot create. He can only pervert. And he wants us to embrace perversion under the guise of godliness. Remember, Satan doesn’t openly reveal temptation. He is subtle; thus, temptation to participate in ungodliness comes in many alluring (and seemingly beautiful) forms. It can sound worthy; it can look holy.
It’s a trap. Coming from under the influence of my dad, grandpa, and close friends who served in our military, I’d say it’s an absolutely stunning booby-trap. A veritable Trojan Horse.
Remember when Jesus said that a house divided against itself cannot stand? Satan cannot cast out Satan. So let me ask the all-weighty question: is witchcraft, sorcery, fantasy, and magic of God or the devil?
Think hard. Now think again. This is an important question to answer.
If you are a Christian, you are compelled to admit that all of the above (sorcery, magic, witchcraft) are not of God. And you are either for God or against Him. As I like to say, there is no middle ground, no white sin. You are either for holiness (God) or not.
Choose now. Good. We are all on the same page.
For what I am about to say next, please believe I am trying to do so graciously and with the intention of helping, not hurting. But it is time for a stand to be made. Christians are going with the flow, mindlessly watching and reading things that are grieving the Holy Spirit of God. I don’t think they are doing so in rebellion. I simply think they have never taken the time to really think this through.
But, ignorance is no excuse. A lot of the time, we can be willingly ignorant, which is sin. So let’s delve deep into this topic.
I have never watched or read The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, or The Hobbit. I certainly have never participated in Harry Potter. Why?
It’s all very simple. Those books/films are filled to every nook and cranny with creatures and actions which are cultic, evil, and down-right demonic. But these movies are Christian, you protest! Everyone from Kirk Cameron to American Family Associate promotes them!
Does that make it right? And who says demonic creatures are “Christian”?
I don’t have time to talk about all of the movies I mentioned. So let’s just zoom in and focus on one: The Hobbit. I will italicize every word that sends up red flags for me as a Christian.
The Hobbit is the story of a hobbit. (Very good; no surprise there!).
Quoting from Wikipedia “Bilbo Baggins, the titular protagonist, is a respectable, reserved hobbit. During his adventure, Bilbo often refers to the contents of his larder at home and wishes he had more food. Until he finds a magic ring he is more baggage than help. Gandalf, an itinerant wizard introduces Bilbo to a company of thirteen dwarves. During the journey the wizard disappears on side errands dimly hinted at, only to appear again at key moments in the story. Thorin, the proud, pompous head of the company of dwarves and heir to the destroyed dwarvish kingdom under the Lonely Mountain, makes many mistakes in his leadership, relying on Gandalf and Bilbo to get him out of trouble, but he proves himself a mighty warrior. Smaug is a dragon who long ago pillaged the dwarvish kingdom of Thorin’s grandfather and sleeps upon the vast treasure. The plot involves a host of other characters of varying importance, such as the twelve other dwarves of the company; two types of elves: both puckish and more serious warrior types; Men; man-eating trolls; boulder-throwing giants; evil cave-dwelling goblins; forest-dwelling giant spiders who can speak; immense and heroic eagles who also speak; evil wolves, or wargs, who are allied with the goblins; Elrond the sage; Gollum, a strange creature inhabiting an underground lake; Beorn, a man who can assume bear form; and Bard the Bowman, a grim but honourable archer of Lake-town”. I have also been informed that the film contains shapeshifters. The story is also set in Middle Earth.
Nice. Half the synopsis is italicized. Let’s review: hobbit, wizard, dwarves, dragon, giant, man-eating trolls, talking spiders, talking eagles, evil wolves/wargs, goblins, strange creatures who live in lakes, a man who can assume bear form, shapeshifters, and Middle Earth.
Are any one of those creatures godly? Are any one of them Christ-like? Generally speaking, are those creatures pure, lovely, and worthy of praise or are they known to be mystifying, frightening, and evil? Would you expect to find these creatures in heaven or hell?
Oh, and Middle Earth. Where is that? It doesn’t exist, right? Or does it? The only place the Bible describes as being in the earth is hell. Hades. Slightly eye opening, isn’t it?
What does scripture say about this? 2 Corinthians 10:5 spells it out pretty clearly. “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ…” And what about all of the verses that talk about witchcraft and sorcery? Those things are high treason to almighty God. They are works of the flesh and devil, not of our Lord.
You say: But it’s all in fun! Those creatures are imaginary!
I guess it leads me to ask why we permit devilish, demonic creatures to be imagined and used for our entertainment. It’s playing with witchcraft. Harsh, you say? I don’t think so. Playing with demonic creatures is the first step in playing in greater dangers, like consorting with the father of those creatures. And that father is not the Lord Jesus Christ.
I think we would all agree that goblins, ghosts, witches, wizards, shapeshifters, and wargs are not of God. But what about the wonderful character traits that can be learned, the sweet and inspirational feeling you will get when watching the movie?
Candy-coating. The icing on the poison. Satan disguises evil, demonic creatures under the guise of “character” and “inspiration” and “heartwarming”.
Let’s face it. Thousands of people aren’t flocking to theaters to watch The Hobbit in the interest of becoming godlier. Character, godliness, and inspiration are just the spiritual excuses we use to watch a cultic film.
It’s like watching a horror film about a witch who murders people. In the end, she gets a warm fuzzy feeling because she spares the life of a mouse. Yes, this could be considered mercy or grace. So we should all watch this movie because our children will learn “good character”, right?
Not a chance. And it’s no different with The Hobbit, a film that glorifies demonic creatures and a land depicted in the Bible as hell.
If you are really serious about learning good character, open your Bible. Read about Jonah and the Whale. Talk about the faithfulness of Noah. Just don’t use demonism to teach your children about character. Because, let me assure you, character is not what they are going to take away. They will only get a confusing message about so-called “good” witchcraft, “good” ogres, and a place called Middle Earth. By the way, Satan isn’t against good morals. He is against Jesus Christ. Using demonic creatures to teach a “spiritual lesson” is an oxymoron.
Oh, and what about the example we are sending the world? The unsaved watch horror films about witches; we watch so-called Christian films about wizards and goblins who manage to incorporate “faith and family” into their story. What is the difference? We are sending a nice message to unbelievers. We are no different.
Use this image as an example. Really think about it. Does it look spiritual? God-honoring? Christ-like?
As I said, my intentions are not to be hurtful. I realize there are some bluntly-put sentences. But I simply believe it is time to stand up. Candy-coated witchcraft must not have its place among the believers, no matter what the allures.
Taking a quick bunny-trail, I am not against allegories. The Lord has used some beautiful allegories to encourage, uplift, and teach me. But they weren’t full of devilish creatures and wizards. The only force of evil was the one depicted in the Bible – Satan. There is a huge difference between an allegory that clearly defines Biblical principles and a story like The Hobbit which beautifies creatures like hobbits/wizards and tries to somehow teach “faith and family” in ungodly places like Middle Earth.
Let’s take a stand. Remember, there is no middle line. You are either serving God or Satan. There is no way to mix the two.
So what side are you on?
Heritage of Grace 
Hi,
I am totally with you on that! Thank you for posting on this! I like the way you can stand up for the things you believe in! May God bless you!!
@ bjgibney,
Thanks for stopping by and for your comment!
First of all, I think you make a very good point. Second, Wikipedia isn’t the book, if you haven’t read “The Hobbit,” then I think judging it by the movie which is very different in many respects, isn’t very fair. The name “Middle Earth,” as well as most of the ideas for the book came from Norse mythology and legend. The Hobbits are like the meek that inherit the earth, having home, family, comfort, and rarely desiring more, being content to live out their days in peace in their little corner of the world. The story is about how one Hobbit decides to go on an adventure with 1 wise wizard to help 13 dwarves take back their home and inheritance from the treasure hoarding dragon Smaug.
The theme of the story is essentially about greed, and the sad effects of it. The greed of the dwarves in amassing so much wealth that it brought a dragon to their very doors. The greed of the elven king, the master of Laketown, and eventually of Thorin the dwarf king when he regains his throne and wealth. About how he casts aside his friends as his possessions begin to consume him, like Solomon of old. Even Gollom was consumed by a jewel, the ring. Originally he was like a Hobbit, but the ring drove him mad, and gave him unnaturally long life, which why he is so ugly and shriveled. His looks reflect what his heart has become. The ring became the only thing that was precious to him, and thieves broke through and stole it from him you could say. Throughout the whole, the Hobbit Bilbo stays for the most part the most simple and refreshing character. Even though he is the smallest and least of them all, it is he who is usually responsible for getting them out of tight situations.
Once in a while in the book, it says something like “He wished for his home at Bag-End, not for the last time.” which was quite natural, for he was on the road, unaccustomed to being away, as he had been for some months, but he didn’t go around complaining, (Wikipedia probably exaggerated.) In the end, it is much in the style of The Chronicles of Narnia, both written for kids the authors knew, with a little analogy, a little legend, and a whole lot of imagination. Of course there is much more to the book than this, but these are the main points.
I’m not saying you are wrong, in fact, you may be quite right in saying what you do. I’m not saying you should read the book either, especially if you feel so strongly about it. What I am saying is that, perhaps, since you haven’t read it, maybe you could be a little more generous in your judgement. What is good for some, isn’t always good for others. If you eat a plate of spaghetti, you may feel great, on the other hand, if I ate a plate of spaghetti I would be so sick, that it might be a month before I am well. The spaghetti wouldn’t agree with me, The Hobbit likely wouldn’t with you either.
Personally, I love “The Hobbit” because there is so much good in it to me. To me, not everything has to be specifically about God to be God-honoring. The sunset might not have the words “Jesus died for you, and sank down into the grave, that you could rise with Him to His heavenly kingdom in the sky,” painted in with the colors, but that is what I think of when I see it! There is good in the sunset, and I feel there is much good in The Hobbit, for me at least. But I agree, there are many things disguised to be good that are not. Sometimes the Devil will even allow a little good in some things that are essentially evil, so that he can corrupt you. Everyone can only judge by their own conscience. There is a verse in the Bible I love that says-
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things
are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8
You have given me a lot to think about. Thanks for sharing your opinion, especially on such a subject! It requires a lot of courage to stand by your convictions, and share what you feel.
Just my two cents here as a filmmaker.
I agree in part and disagree in part. I agree that these things are a mix of trickery and things that shouldn’t be painted in a good light. That’s like biting into that fruit again from the mixed tree of good and evil. However, those of us with discernment should, for the purposes of those who do not believe and always as He leads, use key happenings within such popular shows to bring them to focus on the real issues; much like Sha’ul used the set up for “THE UNKNOWN GOD” as something with which he was able to get some to focus.
LOTR was made up of different elements of the biblical story and the fight of humanity wrapped up into the characters. What made the story popular was not the wizardry or creatures, though it helped widen the audience, but the vulnerable human element that seeks to do the right thing and to press on in the face of tyranny, forces beyond the natural, temptation, failure, and outright loneliness. Narnia did a better job and separating the good and evil, but the evil made to be good was grossly misplaced.
I disagree that we should steer away from witchery, wizardry, and the demonic… instead, it would be beneficial to paint it in a true light in both writings and film so that those who read and watch would have a sense of possible victory if they are abiding in Him. At least that will be my goal when using such characters. It is so crucial that we stay away from calling evil good and good evil, but it shouldn’t mean we cannot use the depiction of evil for good to overcome. This would be the principle of being “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”
But by the same measure, christmas and easter and valentines (halloween is a duh) are also of pagan origin as well, and more grievous to Him than watching a movie because it involves the observance of them… a form of worship. He commands, do not learn the way of the heathen. Do not worship as they do and say you do it unto Me; it is an abomination.
@dgraci,
You try to take the middle road (“I agree in part but disagree in part”). I guarantee to you that almost nobody will show up to see movies where the “depiction of evil (occult)” is overcome by the good.
The idea that Christmas and Easter are the way you say, are part of the Seventh Day Adventist propaganda machine, including the abhorrent Jehovah’s Witnesses. For the most part, Christians in the U.S. are well trained in Bible and theology and they don’t care about the pagan origins of these holidays.
They already… [edited by blog owner]
@ dgraci,
you don’t deserve an answer. You have filthy mind. Don’t write back.
Hi dgraci,
You’re a filmmaker? Nice! I’ve worked with several filmmakers. Also, I’m an author, which gives us plenty in common!
Well, I cannot agree that mixing paganism and occult with Christianity is right, even if it is used to draw the masses. God’s Word is pretty clear on the subject. Just His abhorrence of witchcraft alone should be enough. Also, His command not to suffer sorcery or anything that casts up imaginations which are in any way associated with the occult is pretty strong.
Hmmm. If you think it’s ok to mix paganism with Christianity, you shouldn’t have a problem with Christmas or Easter. Correct? But you may be happy to discover I don’t have double standards. I am against The Hobbit and I don’t participate in any pagan rituals around the holidays, including Easter eggs and Christmas trees. But what about you? You can’t be against paganism in one form and not another. Just a thought. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
Alicia, so well said. Thank you for taking a firm stand on this important and often-avoided topic. In eternity, there will be no regret for standing on a “too righteous” side of an issue.
You made the comment “C.S. Lewis believed the Creation chapters in Genesis were a myth, and he was a theistic evolutionist.” From what I can see this not correct. Yes he started as a non believer but as he became a Christain and his faith increased he changed his views considerably. I know many very conservative Christains who have read his works (including my parents ) who would never touch his writings if he wrote about evolution.
As to his children’s books, I have read them and loved them. They are beautiful and I dearly loved them.
http://creation.com/c-s-lewis
@ Jo,
Let me get back to you in a few days on that.
I think you’re looking at this from the wrong perspective — from the perspective of a strong believer who is confident in her faith. I’m glad you’re so confident, but remember that the rest of the world…isn’t.
These types of books, which use fantastical creatures, different worlds, and allegorical story lines to help people understand the greater message of the Christian faith, are, simply put, a lot more interesting than the Bible. Don’t get me wrong — I love the Bible. But I (and you) would be an idiot to say that random non-believers on the street would be more open to reading the Bible than to reading The Hobbit. Seriously, now. These, and other, authors are trying to get through to a sinful world the only way they can — through something that puts a different angle (but with the same underlying philosophy) on Biblical stories. I’m not going to get into the Christian imagery of The Hobbit or the other books you mentioned; there are plenty of resources on the Internet for that. But let’s just say that these books are a stepping stone to a non-believer researching Christianity for his or herself.
Again, I think your perspective is skewed. Yes, YOU can pick up the Bible whenever you want to, but a non-believer? Not so much. At the risk of sounding harsh, you should be a little more open to the fact that there’s a world of sinners around you who need all the help they can get. For every one non-believer you can get to read the Bible, thousands will flock to the works of Tolkien and Lewis, and about 1/4 of them will then pick up the Bible.
@ Adriana,
Thanks for the comment. If you read a little about the occult, you will come to realize that you are looking at it from the wrong perspective. God in His Sovereignty can use this type of literature as a stepping stone, but usually for those who are or were in the occult. Otherwise for non-believers these types of books only will get them into occultism rather than draw them out from it, because occultism is seductive. I was wondering, where did you find in the Bible that God uses these means as “stepping stones” to draw non-believers to Christianity?
@ Rebekah and Alicia,
I’m not sure where you are getting the idea that any of these books are usually stepping stones for those who are part of the occult. Very, very few people are drawn into the occult because of these books. Harry Potter I could see as luring people into witchcraft and the occult, but really not with Tolkien’s or Lewis’s books. Certainly Lewis’s Chronicles are brimming with Christian themes and teachings, as is to an extent Tolkien’s works, though more subtly and more elegantly. I’m sure there are some people that twist these works to see the occult, but the vast majority do not. I grew up reading these books, part of that time as a non-Christian and was never lured into witchcraft or the occult, nor were any of my friends who were also reading them.
And I have to agree with Adriana, that a non-believer is much more likely to pickup The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe or The Fellowship of the Ring than they are the Bible. The Lord works in mysterious ways. Who’s to say that a person’s sudden impulse to purchase one of those books and read it won’t lead them to want to know more about what the books are talking about, what they are based on, thus leading them to the Bible in a round about way, but leading them there nonetheless. Perhaps that impulse is the Spirit pricking them. I can’t know for certain, and quite honestly, neither can you.
Yes, thousands of people will flock to watch The Hobbit, me and a large number of my Christian friends included. That does not make it ungodly or evil. What about such movies as Courageous or Fireproof that also drew thousands of people yet were unquestionably Christian and were welcomed into theaters? Are they also to be considered of the devil because so many people wanted to see them? And yes, restaurants create food that is based off off popular things to take advantage of the popularity and earn more money. That’s what they do and that does not make the popular movie or whatever it might be evil. There is a tearoom in the city I live where the month of November has a Lord of the Rings theme with the food, tea, and music. It is quite honestly one the most Christian establishments I have ever entered. I’m sure my words aren’t going to change your minds, and I will say that I feel that you both have your hearts in the right place, but I also feel that you are being very close-minded. If the majority of Christian groups, authors, spokespeople, and others praise and promote these books and movies, then perhaps it is worth hearing what they have to say. I understand not just going along with the masses and taking their words for granted, but much of what you both have said seems to be said in ignorance or very much taken out of context without any real knowledge of what you are talking about. I would encourage you to look into it some more, not reading or watching them, but simply seeing what those groups or people have to say. Just a suggestion.
@ Melody,
I sense that you are playing “politeness” yet are kind of militant about Tolkien and Lewis’s occult works. It seems you are bothered by the truth of the Bible which says to: “Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Tess 5:22). The statements you made contrasting the Hobbit with other movies like Courageous are a wrong analogy. Just a suggestion, you could have stated your opinion in a briefer format.
I think I understand where you are coming from and I appreciate your thoughts. I agree – we are surrounded by a world of sinners who need help. That is why the Lord gave us His inspired Word. Yes, we all use stepping stones to grow, but I don’t feel the Lord desires to use pagan and occultist practices to bring the unsaved to Him. He uses the Holy Spirit and His Word. Quite honestly, anyone searching for the truth, anyone who is hurting, is not going to be pricked in their Spirit to read The Hobbit. They will search for a Bible. And God has made them very available – no one will have an excuse when they come before Him. The world always does make their cheap substitutes look more alluring than the Bible, but, in the end, I wonder what God will have to say about those feel the need to look for truth in other places because His is not as intriguing?
I agree – thousands of people will flock to watch The Hobbit. That is another element that disturbs me. It if is so godly, so of the Lord, why does every single theater accept it? Why are there restaurants who devote whole sections of the menu to Hobbit dishes? Why is it required reading in the public schools? None of those places have ever been about promoting the Lord. In fact, anything that the masses turn out to do may be something we should step back to consider.
I think we do have one thing in common. 🙂 We both believe in helping a hurting world around us.
It sounds to me like you are assuming that any imaginary creatures are automatically evil. I think that is a stretch. I feel the same about your assertion that Middle Earth must be Hell.
I’m also disturbed by your idea of judging the godliness or evilness of something from a picture from a movie. Whatever happened to not judging on outward appearances? Or is this back to the idea that this is an imaginary creature which equals evil?
@ Heather,
On the contrary, you have a reductionist approach. Ugly and evil creatures are just that- evil & ugly, and we are surrounded by enough ugliness and problems in life, we don’t need extra stuff like this.
Where does the Bible say not to judge outward appearances? I’m not saying we are to have a critical, harsh mindset – we must embrace mercy as well as truth. But do you see evil, ugly creatures as being from God or Satan? God has made all things beautiful; nothing He does is ugly. In fact, one of the major signs of demonic oppression is obsessions with death, ugliness, and mystical forces that are not of God.
One of the most disturbing elements about Middle Earth is that Tolkien said it was real; that it really existed on our planet during one time. No, this is not a misquotation. Believe me, I’d love to be able to go along with everyone and enjoy this movie too. I did do my research there.
One of the comments that you made that bothered me the most was a reference to Gollum made near the end of your post, “Use this image as an example. Really think about it. Does it look spiritual? God-honoring? Christ-like?”. This would leave me to wonder who are you or anyone, to judge someone’s (something’s) spirituality based on their appearance. If you had referenced his acts, perhaps by reading the novels, your comments might have much more credibility. To pick and chose which aspect of Christianity and the teachings of Jesus, completely ignoring Matthew 7:1 which advises you against judging other seems pretty hypocritical. I my experiences, I’ve found that it’s the wolf in sheep’s clothing that I need to be wary of; the hypocritical and the judgmental.
@ Gardnerh,
What kind of “spirituality” are you talking about?
I was speaking to the one you referred to in your comment on the photo and wondering on what basis you made that judgement.
I agree we cannot base all of our judgments on appearance alone. But, by their fruits you shall know them. And all of our deeds come from the heart. If one looks of the devil, not of God, one has to wonder where their heart is. And Matthew 7 is actually speaking of hypocritical judgement, not judging in general. If we are to have the discernment Jesus commands, we must judge in love. How else are we to try the spirits to see if they are God, commanded in John?
I totally get what you are saying and I agree but I never have heard or thought of “Lord of the Rings” or “The Hobbit” as Christian. Chronicles totally but not the others. We got rid of our LOTR box set years ago because we were feeling it didn’t align with our beliefs…People who read this post and become defensive are either being convicted and don’t want to be or still in the darkness…don’t take it personal..If they don’t like what you write then they shouldn’t be here. Thanks for the post.
Thank you, Rachel. My Mom said the same thing. She said in her school days, it was never considered Christian. After all, why is it required reading in the public schools?
Thank you so much for your encouragement! I am very grateful for it. 🙂
Thank you Alicia for taking the time to pen this! I think especially in this cultural climate, it is more important than ever to weigh EVERYTHING that we allow into our hearts and our homes against what the Bible has to say. We live in an age of relativism, and that often transfers over into Christian culture as well. We see Christians measure what is right against what other Christians allow, especially if something has the support of the majority. I personally want to make sure everything is looked at with eternal perspective, and not just what is warm and fuzzy at the moment. That being said, I also don’t want to judgementally nit-pick issues that other, perhaps less mature, Christians are still growing in. This is not to you at all, but rather the commentor who labeled those who watch LOTR for the Christian message as “Lost Believers”. I don’t believe in using the gift of grace as a license to sin…but we are all on a path of striving to imitate Christ in His image of righteousness, and some Christians could use a little more grace in their walk of faith, especially when their hearts are truly set on serving the Lord. I certainly don’t want to harp on their splinter of immaturity when I have a plank of self-righteousness in my own heart. Who are we to imply they are not saved because they believe there is a message of Christ in those movies? Again, this is not condoning allowing those types of movies in our homes…but rather encouraging a heart ‘reality check’ to fellow believers. Do we have our own ‘sacred cows’ that have the pagan world mixed in, but we would never consider giving those up? I am a born-again sinner, saved by what Christ did for me on the cross and I will admit something that will make the majority of Christians GASP! I do not celebrate Christmas…or Easter…(or Halloween or Valentine’s Day for that matter). Now I have some shouting ‘blasphemy’ because I touched on their ‘sacred cows’ of the December 25th Saturnalia Festival blended with the false date of the birth of Christ. (The practice of mixing pagan practices and festivals was initiated by the emperor Constantine in order to make swallowing the pill of Christianity easier on pagan converts). Yet, those same Christians who label others as “Lost believers” for perhaps being unaware of the weight that mixing pagan/demonic with a ‘good message’ brings, cannot see the hypocrisy this involves? They will justify and defend that ‘sacred cow’ until they are blue in the face, even though they have no Biblical foundation that supports them. The Bible explicitly talks about the decorating of what has become our modern Christmas tree!!!
Jeremiah 10: 1-5 does talk about cutting down a tree and decorating it.
God and Idols
1 Hear what the LORD says to you, O house of Israel. 2 This is what the LORD says:
“Do not learn the ways of the nations
or be terrified by signs in the sky,
though the nations are terrified by them.
3 For the customs of the peoples are worthless;
they cut a tree out of the forest,
and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.
4 They adorn it with silver and gold;
they fasten it with hammer and nails
so it will not totter.
How can we overlook this??? And for Easter, the pagan traditions can be seen as even more ‘heinous’…the beloved tradition of dipping and dying eggs began during the Pagan spring fertility festivals, when eggs were dipped into the blood of sacrificed infants as part of pagan fertility rituals, and the rabbit was seen as the symbol of fertility. They worshiped the sun which is why we have ‘sunrise’ services.
There is so much more about these Holidays that I wish I had the space to cover on here. I wrote a paper on this years ago and would be happy to attach in an email if anyone is interested in learning further.
Now lets have the “Well it doesn’t mean that for me”, “It’s okay because we attached a good message”, “Some have been brought to Christ through it” etc. etc. same justifications that we see the pro-LOTR Christians giving…How is this different?? Mixing pagan with good is mixing pagan with good. Your ‘sacred cow’ is no better reason than the next person’s ‘sacred cow’. The Bible warns against mixing with the surrounding pagan cultures and their traditions and practices!!
However the Bible does give us instructions for celebrating Godly appointed times, that if we truly looked into what they represent, we see a beautiful shadow of Christ and what He did for us. The symbolism and time table of those Biblical holidays represent the picture of the love story of salvation so breathtakingly that anything else is just cheap imitations.
(again, wishing I had more space and time) 🙂
My point is…I was a Christian who went along with the majority and did what was popular and celebrated all the secular ‘Christian’ holidays that a ‘good’ Christian was supposed to. I lovingly had my eyes opened to the dangers of mixing the pagan/unGodly with Christ, all for the sake of a good message. I hope this article can do the same for those who don’t use discernment in the media they allow in, as well as everything else they allow into their homes, no matter how seemingly harmless.
Do I think that Christians who still unknowingly embrace the world’s holidays and all of the associated pagan customs are doomed to perish…not necessarily. Do I think that Christians who unknowingly promote LOTR for its ‘Christian’ message are doomed to perish…not necessarily! My salvation rests in what Christ has done for me on the cross. I must daily take up my own execution stake and repent of all unrighteousness in my own life…it is a walk of faith and I am still learning everyday…every time I spend time in the Word I learn…through articles like this I learn, in the spirit of ‘iron sharpening iron’. God is patient and gracious with me as I learn to walk in His way, molding me into the example that Christ set. I fail daily, but that is the reason Christ died. Not so that I could sin…but so that when I (as a sinner) do, I can repent and turn from that sin with full forgiveness. I cannot rely on my own works and ‘righteousness’ to save me. So when someone who calls themselves a Christian judges another, maybe less mature, Christian and implies that they are a ‘lost believer’ because of a movie they may have seen…I can’t see the difference between that spirit and that of the Pharisees in the Bible. God judges the HEART, something that man cannot know or see. Furthermore, that is not for us to judge. That is for God alone.
🙂 I enjoyed your article Alicia and would also love to encourage others to evaluate everything that comes into their lives against the Word of God.
Love and Blessings in Christ 🙂
Elizabeth
@ Elizabeth Weaver,
I sense that you use as a pretext the ongoing discussion to off on a tangent to expound on your own ideas and agenda. Also, could you be more specific and say exactly who in the comments labeled anyone as “lost believers”?
Thank you for stopping by. While we may not agree on everything, I think we can mutually appreciate a zeal for the Lord and His truths. God bless!
Thank you so much for sharing this! It has been my understanding for some time. I grew up reading the Narnia stories and believing them to be christian, until I started to look into what I was actually reading and who was writing them. It’s not just a story, and the amount of evil & occultic practices by both the good and evil sides is astounding. God never uses the occult or evil to win anything That’s Satan’s domain. Once we are changed into the likeness of Christ Jesus the Lord, we are new creatures and shouldn’t be desiring the dark things of the world. The occult and witchcraft is all around us. But it should not be found in us and I think it’s fantastic that you’ve chosen to use discernment and not open the pages of those books yourself. Believer or not, one is better without them.
God Bless!
Thank you for pointing that out! Yes, even the “good” sides uses occult practices. I am so grateful there are others who share these convictions. God bless and thank you for your encouragement.
What a banal, drab life– to be so fearful of literary imagination! You see the word “wizard” and run for the hills of self-righteous ignorance.
However, you have never taken into account that the imaginative, literary use of such things. Wizards, dwarves, elves, etc. are creatures in a world that is NOT our own; Middle Earth and Narnia are imaginary worlds that are distinct from reality. The fanciful story is meant to REFLECT truths about our world, the human condition, morality in an imaginative and entertaining world of fantasy, much like fables only for the mature mind. The “magic” is inherent in the natures of these fantastical creatures, not because of flirting with the occult.
Contrast this to, say, Harry Potter. That series isn’t questionable because of the existence of fictional beings– it’s questionable because it is set in the real world; it’s characters must learn and practice magic; utilitarian morality (ie. SPOILER ALERT Snape mercy killing Dumbeldore) is not Christian.
And, next time you read the Bible, ask yourself are most of the “creatures” godly, or are they flawed beings who struggle. Last time I checked, David was an adulterer, Moses had anger management issues, and Peter denied Christ. I guess we shouldn’t read the Bible since we elevate creatures who are not perfectly Christ-like and godly?
(btw, to answer your question, yes, Aslan in the Chronicles of Narnia is the Christ figure of that world whose sacrifice is full of Biblical imagery.)
@ Laura,
Why don’t you make your argument simple- we don’t need this whole array of ugly and occult imaginary characters in order to reflect the problems of our life and world. The Word of God has all things pertaining to life described in a realistic way, and that brings conviction to the reader. So we don’t need all the things you mentioned in your comment.
Just pointing this out, Tolkien himself said that Middle Earth is not imaginary. He said it really did exist on our planet at one point in time. The argument that, if we use imaginary worlds, we can do anything we want is not found in Scripture. In fact, God warns us not to have imaginations that can in any way exalt beings against Him.
About the Bible characters, our goal is Christ, not mortal man. God didn’t put David’s flaws in the Bible to make us want to commit adultery, but to warn us.
Thank you, Kyla Denae, for providing some background for the LOTR trilogy. It is much needed in this discussion.
—
I find myself wondering exactly what the author is attempting to accomplish here, in practical terms. If she intends this to be a piece of persuasive rhetoric, then it is an epic failure. It is riddled with poorly executed “research” and heavy dependence upon tertiary sources which are also of questionable scholarly reliability. She is drawing conclusions based upon an exceptionally flimsy and fundamentally flawed supposition. Let me point out a couple of things which stick out.
First, she’s not even read the authors she excoriates. I cannot see how one can possibly presume to critique these authors without first having detailed firsthand knowledge of their work. To do so smacks of either inexperience, or worse, arrogance. Or both.
Second, in absence of firsthand experience with the works of Tolkien, she quotes the Wikipedia article on ‘The Hobbit’ (!). Anybody who has had research 101 knows that Wikipedia is NEVER considered a reliable source from a scholarly standpoint. It is editable by anyone. For any reason, or no reason at all. Hence, to use it in such a manner serves only to undermine the author’s credibility. This alone ought to be enough to dismiss this whole article as unreliable. But let me point out a few more items of interest.
In absence of a deeper understanding of the works of Tolkien and Lewis, she draws conclusions that they must somehow be instruments of the devil. This argument is apparently supported by tertiary sources who clearly have an agenda and whose own work is also filled with shoddy scholarship (and additionally supported by a Wikipedia article that is full of buzzwords). Let us not even get started on the conspiracy theory website that was offered by another commenter. In short, the author demonstrates an incredibly superficial understanding of two of the greatest authors of the twentieth century and then has the immense gall to condemn them as agents of the devil, and furthermore, to subtly dismiss all other views on the matter as sinful.
Also, none of the author’s sources have been divulged. What little we do have was in the comments section, provided apparently by the blog owner. Does this stem from poor research skills? Or maybe the author is very much aware that she is using questionable sources and does not want to have to explain them? In fact, the author herself has not given any rebuttals to comments; she has only replied to the chorus of “AMEN” rather than acknowledge multiple challenges to her conclusions. Is she unable to provide rebuttal? Unwilling?
Furthermore, the references we do see are authored by men who seem to have no scruples against blatantly quoting C.S. Lewis out of context in order to provide an illusion of support for their respective premises.
The works of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis are incredibly deep and are rich with insightful observation and allegory. To dismiss them using out of context quotes about their personal beliefs–and sheer lack of knowledge about their corpus–is laughable.
I submit that the conclusions the author of this article draws are based upon spurious arguments designed to support preconceived notions about authors whose works she has not read, much less even understood. She needs to get off the soapbox and actually read these authors before presuming to cut them down as well as slap everyone else’s hands for reading and enjoying them.
@ Anonymous,
Honestly, I don’t want to be rude, but do you think that if you use a cluttered language by which you want to be seen as a sophisticated intellectual, it will make your argument stronger? On the contrary.
We are in a free market of ideas, so the author shared her conviction on the topic and why she is taking that position, so if that is her conviction she does not necessarily need to back it up with bibliography. Some people have an a-priori rejection of this type of literature, and that is perfectly fine because it’s backed up by the Word of God anyway.
I am sorry but I will tell you there is a lot of hubris in your argument….
actually, his argument is made stronger by actually READING the article (unlike the author, who didn’t bother to read the works she was condemning) and by citing examples from the author’s OWN work. The language was concise, appropriate, and educated. The writing was on point and thoughtful.
Rebekah’s reply was not a response about the message, but rather a response about the messenger. She is absolutely correct that we are in a free market of ideas, and that the author doesn’t necessarily need to back it up with bibliography. However, if the author wants us to buy her theory, she needs a stronger selling point than “because i said so.”
Hi,
All the philosophers with rare exceptions force their view on the reader without much support. Alicia is entitled to her opinion. She didn’t write a scholarly paper.
I have been reading these comments and must say that there is some heated discussion going on here. 🙂 I know this is a very hard topic. I admire Ms. Willis’s courage to stand up for what she believes in. While I do not fully agree with everything she said, I will say that this post has caused me to think very hard about my position on this issue. All in all, I believe that is Ms. Willis’s goal. She is urging us to deeply consider our convictions on this issue and make sure that they are Biblical. After reading this post, I have questioned and tested my own beliefs and had some healthy discussions with my family. If I am correct, that is Ms. Willis’s goal.
Thank you, Ms. Willis, for standing strong on your beliefs. 🙂 I’m praying for you.
@Anonymous,
Thank you! I appreciate your thoughts. Agreeing completely with each other is not the point, as you said. I do only want to encourage others to consider their stance and do all within their power to serve the Lord with their whole heart. Thank you for stopping by and for taking a moment to be an encouragement. 🙂
I would be so much more open to this if it was from the view point of someone who had read the books and knew what she was talking about. Sadly, because the author did not read the books, it’s hard for me to take her seriously. She has a right to her opinion, and I respect that, but until the books are read, and the author lays out–with knowledge–exactly what in these books that is evil, I will not be taking this to heart.
Thank you for stopping by. Throwing this out there for your consideration: If one is to consistently take the stance you’ve adopted, one must also read in detail every single other book out there before proclaiming it wrong. Should we read The Witches Bible, the Egyptian Book of the Dead, and Journey of Souls to proclaim they are wrong? This stance must also include sin in general. Shall we have an abortion, take drugs, or steal to proclaim their evil from personal experience? Christ didn’t. Could it be the Church is in the condition she is today because we have bought into the idea we must experience sin to effectively combat it? Again, thank you for stopping by! 🙂
I don’t see this as an area of judging others and being unkind, but as a challenge to examine and see if what you are watching is hurting our Lord and Savior. Are you entertaining thoughts and viewing things that God specifically says is wrong?. Watching or reading things that have witches, sorcerers, creatures from the underworld is poisoning your soul. Warning others about this is from a heart of love to see you grow in grace and do the things that please Him, so that He can say, “well done, though good and faithful servant.” May we all endeavor to please our Lord Jesus Christ in ALL that we do. Thanks for the article!
I don’t want to be mean and I certainly don’t want to offend here, but I found your statements to be hurtful, harsh and they made me feel inferior. I don’t think you meant it to be this way, but I felt that you took a bit of holier-than-thou tone. I can understand where you are coming from, and I certainly respect your views, however, I must admit that I found it very difficult to see this from your view point simply because, quite honestly, you have no idea what you are talking about. You have never read any of these books, nor seen these movies. C.S. Lewis, if I remember correctly, wrote the Chronicle of Narnia as a kind of allegory, and the books are beautifully written and certainly for me as a child, they taught me about Christ and His sacrifice and His teachings in a way that I could understand because they are very clearly Christian. J.R.R. Tolkien is a little more subtle in his writing, but his faith is certainly on display in The Lord of the Rings, though I think you see it even more in The Silmarillion.
I would also like to point out your picture of Gollum near the end of your post. No, he does not look God-honoring, spiritual, or Christ-like, but he is not meant to look like that. He is evil, thus he looks evil as do the other “demons” in Middle-Earth. There is a very clear distinction between good and evil in all of the books you mentioned, and good is always triumphant.
Finally I would just like to remind you of a few things from the Bible. You highlighted “dragon”, yet the Bible mentions fire-breathing beasts with scales which is essentially what a dragon is. You also highlighted “giants”. Goliath was called a giant as were other men who walked the earth. You also highlighted the various talking animals. May I remind you that God gave Balaam’s donkey the gift of speech in order to rebuke him for his wrong-doing.
As I said before, I have been reading the Chronicles of Narnia since I was child and even re-reading those books as a young adult, I still learn many of God’s lessons from them. The same with Lord of the Rings. I have read them for years and I have loved the movies since they came out in theaters, I will likely continue to love them until I die. What you would call candy-coating, I see as valuable lessons in life and spirit. I have known people who were led to Christ by those very books, because the Christian message is so clear because they are in many ways allegories. Non-Christians usually aren’t going to just decide that they want to pick up the Bible or another Christian book and just start reading it. But they very well might pick up a fictional book with the message of Christ and come to know Him that way. I would also like to point out that if someone wants to watch or read these movies and books with only the intent of seeing those evil characters, of seeing only the magic, then that is their choice. They could read the Bible and do the exact same thing, yet that does not make the Bible evil. I choose to watch and read them and see the hand of God in them and see them as a blessing and, again, as an opportunity to reach people with Christ’s love.
Again, I respect your view. I understand that you were trying to be blunt, but this is a huge topic. These are all very popular books and movies, ones that Christians and non-Christian alike enjoy. With something like this I think I would have felt less offended, less like you were saying how much better than me you are if you had handled it in a more loving, understanding way. I guess I would just ask that in the future that you consider that there are many, many people who do see God’s hand at work within these movies and books and that, if possible, you accept that. I hope I haven’t offended you and I hope you continue to serve God in whatever capacity He would have you. God Bless.
I would like to add one more thing here. I’m not sure if you considered this, but what about the authors of these works? C.S. Lewis is well known for his Christian writings and again, Tolkien put aspects of his faith into his works. They both sought to serve God through their writing, through their talent as writers. Are you saying that they served Satan? That their works were inspired by Satan? What about other well-known present authors who write books that are filled with God’s Word and teachings, yet also feature mythical creatures or magic? Do you think that they are of Satan? Just something to consider.
@ Anonymous,
Here is something for you to consider. If you do a little background research on C.S. Lewis and Tolkein, you will be surprised to find their beliefs and lifestyles were not consistent with Biblical Christianity. They may have claimed to be Christians, but that does not mean they were. The Pharisees in the Bible were very religious and moral people, they devoted a lot of time to religious literature, but that did not make them true believers/followers of Christ.
C.S. Lewis for example had very erroneous doctrinal beliefs. I’ll summarize them in this comment, but be sure to read the article which explains it in more detail here: http://apprising.org/2012/08/18/gary-gilley-on-c-s-lewis/.
– C.S. Lewis believed the Creation chapters in Genesis were a myth, and he was a theistic evolutionist.
– He did not hold Scripture as infallible.
– He believed Christ’s death on the cross was a theory, and that people could go to heaven if they were moral enough.
– He believed there were many ways to God.
Those are some major red flags about Lewis’ worldview. The Scripture says you shall know them by their fruits: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” (Matthew 7:15-20).
Rebekah
Rebekah,
I am aware that both C.S. Lewis and Tolkien had their failings. I have researched both of them, Tolkien quite extensively for my senior research paper, and I agree that with both there were areas where they were weak, C.S. Lewis in particular. I have actually read that article and, again, I fully understand that Lewis was very off in some of his beliefs. However, I don’t believe that that means that all of his works should be tossed in the trash. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe is very, very clearly Christian, in my opinion. I believe it is meant to be an allegory of Christ’s death and resurrection, in reading it, it really cannot be taken for anything else. Some of Lewis’ works were more out there and did not coincide with Biblical teaching, this was not one of them. The same is true of the rest of The Chronicles of Narnia. They very clearly depict Christ’s teachings from the Bible, this was not one of the areas where he went astray.
@ Anonymous,
Thanks for stopping by and reading the article. You said: “if someone wants to watch or read these movies and books with only the intent of seeing those evil characters, of seeing only the magic, then that is their choice. They could read the Bible and do the exact same thing, yet that does not make the Bible evil.”
I would like to kindly say that it is a wrong analogy to compare those movies/writings with the Bible and saying someone could focus on the “evil” when reading the Bible. The Bible is primarily about God, His holiness, about His plan of Salvation in bringing us from darkness to light. So the Scripture does not focus on evil/negative aspects- whatever negative things are presented in there are put in contrast with the Truth and the very presence of God. It is a God dominated book. While on the other hand, the movies and writings of Tolkien & Lewis are predominated by occult and dark characters and themes. There is a stark difference between the two.
Also, yes God can use anything to bring people to salvation, but you cannot make a rule out of an exception. A majority of people are saved after direct exposure to the Gospel: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17).
Take care,
Rebekah
Rebekah,
I see what you are saying and that was certainly not what I meant. To phrase it better, a person could read the Bible and focus on Satan and his part in the Bible instead of seeing God in everything. You are absolutely correct that Scripture does not focus on evil or negative aspects. The Bible is very much a God dominated book, but Satan does have his part to play through it in the capacity that God allows him.
I will say again that since you have not read any of these books or seen the movies, you cannot know that they are predominated by dark characters and themes. They are not. You are making an assumption based on what very little you know. Those dark characters play their part, just as Satan has his part in the Bible tempting and seeking to bring down Christ, yet always failing. So do these evil characters always fail. The good characters are always triumphant and the themes are not dark. For me, I will continue to see God’s amazing hand in these works and in other similar works that to me very clearly support and teach God’s Word.
Just thought I would touch on a few points…
Agreed. Dragons are Biblical and I do believe in their existence. However, they were not mystical creatures, only ordinary creatures like a rabbit or squirrel. And, yes, giants were in the Bible. However, they were definitely not exalted as being godly. Those beings were italicized for the way they are portrayed. It is funny you should mention Balaam. Yes, the Lord supernaturally gave an animal the ability to speak to rebuke a false prophet who used divination and sorcery. So using that instance to promote a movie that promotes sorcery really doesn’t apply.
You have not offended me because I sense you are not here to be hurtful or critical. But neither am I. Truly, I put much prayer into this and only did as the Holy Spirit led. I do not hate anyone, nor wish to be thought of that way. But please consider this: is it love to say nothing when you have brought to an awareness of dangers? Love is not love without truth.
I hope God blesses your day!
Alicia,
I think your feeling to stay away from these things is right on. These movies/books are favorites of cults and those who practice witchcraft. I think it is foolish for Christians to turn a blind eye to the witchcraft in them. Please read a couple of articles by a pastor (now passed) who used to be a witch–he knows about this stuff. May it assist you in spreading the light of Christ.
http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org/tracts/tract11.html
http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org/tracts/narnia_chronicles.html
Thank you SO much for sharing these links. You have encouraged me more than you can ever know. Thank you for standing for truth.
You are so welcome. I’m so glad they were helpful.
Yes, I’d like to thank you as well. Those links are very interesting.
I have read both of the above articles and I must say that I do not agree with either of them. Be that as it may, I’m not going to point out all that I found wrong with what he said. However, the one thing I cannot stand for is when someone takes something out of context in order to support their claims which this man did. The quotes that this man used from C.S. Lewis’ books shocked me to say the least. I could not believe they were true because I know a great number of very godly men and women who have read C.S. Lewis’ works and have highly recommended them. Upon looking up the passage this man quoted from The World’s Last Night and Other Essays, I found that the lines he quoted sounded so terrible because he had taken them completely out of context with the rest of what Lewis was saying. When read in context, it made much more sense. Here is a link to the book online: https://archive.org/details/worldslastnighta012859mbp. You have to go several pages back and then one or two past what he quoted to get the full context, but its worth the read. I just wanted to mention this in case you were unaware. I think in cases like that where someone is saying something that is very controversial to the universal opinion of others, it is worth following the Berean’s example and double checking the truth of what was spoken.
Thank you for your additional research! I agree that it is important not to take things out of context. That is precisely why I did my own research based on the opinions of those who love Tolkien, so the chance of misrepresentation would be highly doubtful. I do know, however, that I read some quotes elsewhere that were quite disturbing theologically. Either way, I do agree that we need to double check things. God bless.
The author says that he/she is not trying to be hurtful. Criticism is always hurtful and should always be handled with the utmost tact. The “stand” that the author takes is presented with so little love, understanding or mercy, it only confirms the fact that Christians are not different. They attack everybody with an opposing view in a way that can make the world look nice. While I am not a “believer” I know the bible fairly well and i cannot help but think back to Mathew 18:15. “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” KJV Regardless of my feelings of the bible this is sound wisdom. Rebuke your brother in private because you never know who is listening or reading. The author in this post does nothing but perpetuate the idea that Christians are merciless, judgmental people who care not of who you are (a fellow human) but what you do (live up to a standard). Christians claim to be about love but I shutter to think what “love” I would feel if I meet this author in person.
@ Hurt,
I appreciate your participating in this discussion. Since you said you are not a believer, I can give you some benefit of doubt on the position you take. So allow me to point out that the verse you quoted from Matthew 18:15 about rebuking a brother in private, does not apply in this situation and is taken out of context. The greater context of that verse is referring to someone who has specifically or personally wronged another brother or sister in Christ. In reality, Alicia’s article is written as a warning and exhortation for Christians to keep away from occultism infiltrated in Christian literature. There are multiple warnings throughout the Bible both in the Old and New Testament, and we as Christians are told to do the same in 2 Timothy 4:2 – “Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching”. So I don’t know what you saw as unloving and “merciless” in Alicia’s post. She did not use any derogatory or rude comments, and neither was she criticizing anybody, but rather pointing out the danger. I hope that clarified things for you 🙂
Rebekah
@Hurt,
I hoped I could clarify something for you. I know you feel I have been unkind, but if I may point out, I got nothing out of this. I was not paid to write this, nor would I have done so in my own strength. As a human being, I want to be loved and accepted. But I love God and YOU too much to be silent when I may be able to say something that will strengthen one’s walk with Him. So please know that I wrote this out of sincere concern.
Additionally, when Jesus commanded us to preach the gospel, He literally meant to proclaim with a loud voice. Jesus, Paul, Spurgeon, and more all preached on hills or in wide open places where thousands could here. Hence my reasons for using this “hill” of social media where many can here.
I am concerned about your eternal destiny. Head knowledge of the Bible is not enough. I pray you will someday come to accept God’s truth in the table of your heart and understand how much He loves you. Perhaps then some of the things I have said will begin to make sense. All the best!
After stumbling on this, I’m unsure where some of your points actually originate, or why they seemed important enough to harp on. For instance, this bit:
“Oh, and Middle Earth. Where is that? It doesn’t exist, right? Or does it? The only place the Bible describes as being in the earth is hell. Hades. Slightly eye opening, isn’t it?”
“…and a land depicted in the Bible as hell.”
I’m unsure how one makes the logical leap between a place that isn’t anywhere near the nature you imply–it’s called “Middle Earth” because it is located in the middle of the planet, rather like the “Middle Kingdom” that was once China, created to be the center (if you’re interested, Valinor is to the west, and no-man’s-land is to the east, where all Teh Bad Peoples live, so we don’t have to talk about them)–and that’s also rather clearly delineated by real world geography, neatly contained within the bounds of Europe, and hell. Not to mention, if we’re going to go with “oh, well it’s not talked about in the Bible,” (even though it’s, you know, fictional) then let’s go ahead and condemn mathematics, nautical science, the entirety of twenty-first century medical technology and science, airplanes, cars, books in general, plastics, guns, rubber, chocolate, coffee, me, you, all of humanity for 2,000 years, and oh yeah, North America, Australia, and everything east of Egypt (so we don’t have to talk about them). Because, you know, if it’s not talked about in the Bible, it can’t exist or be thought of. Obvsly. But let’s be real here. If you wish to really blast Tolkien’s work, do it properly; there’s an entire mythos-worth to potentially shout at, starting with the inception of the world and the Song, or the pantheon of Valar/arch-angelish creatures who oversee different bits of creation, or the inception of the Silmarils, or the entire story of Turin Turambar and Niniel.
Because, in the end, shouting about how evil creatures that are meant to be evil–orcs, goblins, wargs–are, or about how evil dwarves are (even though they exist, and how awkward is that–Peter Dinklage as an emissary of Satan) or elves (who are supposed to be allegorical reflections of saved believers, if I remember my mythos correctly), or wizards (who in LOTR aren’t ‘wizards’, really, despite the name the people of Middle Earth apply to them; they’re angels, or Maiar, and there are only four of them in Middle Earth, sent to guard the first- and second-born of Eru Iluvatar and on occasion the children of Aule), doesn’t do as much good as actually talking about the problematic bits of it and analyzing how they can actually impact us or not impact us as works of fiction.
And, in the end, it’s just a story. I’m not about to go worshipping Manwe or Yavanna, and I’m not going to start pointing sticks at people and shouting “Avada Kedavra”. And it seems to me that an attempt to point out how “demonic” creatures that are explicitly stated in the source material to be so are, while also shouting about the mythos of a world you don’t even understand, doesn’t help your “cause”.
Also, might I just point out that I am one hundred percent behind you about one thing. Spiders are definitely evil agents of Satan, and we should kill them all on sight.
Just saying.
I’m sorry to say, but I rarely saw a more fallacious argument when you say:
“Not to mention, if we’re going to go with “oh, well it’s not talked about in the Bible,” (even though it’s, you know, fictional) then let’s go ahead and condemn mathematics, nautical science, the entirety of twenty-first century medical technology and science, airplanes, cars, books in general, plastics, guns, rubber, chocolate, coffee, me, you, all of humanity for 2,000 years, and oh yeah, North America, Australia, and everything east of Egypt (so we don’t have to talk about them). Because, you know, if it’s not talked about in the Bible, it can’t exist or be thought of.”
I needed to respond to you although you are referring to Alicia in your comment. Your hugely fallacious analogy hurts the eyes!
Well said Alicia! I get a lot of criticism because I believe totally that the Bible says exactly what God means. Whether that be any of what you mentioned here or such things as abortion, homosexuality, horoscopes or any of the other ways satan has caused the Lost Believers to stumble. A little bluntness never hurt anyone. Marie
Thank you, Marie. I appreciate your thoughts.
Thank you for sharing this, Alicia! I think you put this very well, even if it was a bit blunt. And the way you worded it helped me understand more clearly why Dad doesn’t want us to watch LOTR or the Hobbit. I think I’ll bookmark this so I can refer people whenever we get in a discussion about it! 🙂 Thanks for taking time to write this up.
Blessings,
Esther
(jewelsofjesus.blogspot.com)
Thank you, Ester. I am glad this post was able to clarify some things for you. It sounds like your dad is a man of discernment. 🙂 God bless!