Description: J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy epics are imbued with a deep sense of the spiritual from which readers discern aspects of his beliefs about God, life, good, and evil. In this book, an international group of scholars explore and build on numerous theological ideas that percolate through Tolkien's works.
Brief description: Douglas Estes is associate professor of religion at New College of Florida.
Review Quotes:
"By grace and good fortune, I've been reading J.R.R. Tolkien since 1977 (age 10 for me), and I was first introduced to the great man by reading and re-reading incessantly the opening chapter to The Silmarillion, a gift given to my oldest brother in September of that year. To this day, I cannot read the first three chapters of Genesis without thinking of the Ainulindalë. Despite decades of meditation on this, I have found a multitude of new and fresh insights on Tolkien's thought in this extraordinary new collection, Theology and Tolkien, expertly edited by Douglas Estes. A variety of brilliant voices here--from Austin Freeman to Lisa Coutras to Donald Williams, among twelve others--speak clearly and persuasively about Tolkien's deep and abiding Catholic faith as well as his inspired and providential admiration for many pagan mythologies. A huge bravo to Tolkien and Estes!" --Bradley J. Birzer, Hillsdale College
"Douglas Estes has done commendable work in assembling this substantial and useful volume, which takes an appropriately nuanced approach to exploring theological ideas in Tolkien's work. The contributors draw helpfully not just from The Lord of the Rings but also from Tolkien's larger legendarium, and gain insights from placing his writings in dialogue with various theological approaches." --Holly Ordway, Houston Christian University, author of Tolkien's Faith: A Spiritual Biography "Each of the fine essays in this collection both reflects and refracts the divine light so many have encountered through Tolkien's mythos. A must for any theologically minded Tolkien reader!" --Joel Scandrett, Trinity Anglican Seminary