| > Tolkien was a devout Catholic. There are many Catholic authors. Not everything they write is necessarily a "Catholic work." > The ring is a metaphor for sin. You are welcome to your Catholic interpretation of his work, but Tolkien himself famously said that "There is no 'symbolism' or conscious allegory in my story." As a piece of symbolism, the ring doesn't make any sense. Is he saying that elves helped make sin? And that it can be destroyed in a volcano? In context, it's incoherent and inconsistent with Catholic dogma. Even if we buy your view that the ring is a symbol for sin, that hardly makes it specifically Catholic. Many religions have a concept of sin, including other branches of Christianity. If you were to make a case that LOTR is a Catholic work (not an Evangelical, or Lutheran, or Hindu, or Jewish work) you would need to include some specifically Catholic references, such as that scene where the Orcs worship Sauron's mother. (/s) > Many of his arguments are summarized in this interview: https://youtu.be/HKqvCRc0wWU?si=CPY3SpvRsZ_ZK-Tw I was excited until I realized that the interview is not with Tolkien, but with some random bozo pushing a religious-nationalist agenda. What makes his interpretation of Tolkien's work more valid than that of Tolkien himself? Also, you did say that it's not unusual for popes to cite Tolkien. I'm still waiting for your supporting evidence in this matter. |
Every author says this; they have a financial stake in not alienating outgroups they hope to sell their book to.
Fiction authors (and actors) are professional liars, who sell very convincing lies for a living. Their words should not be trusted so easily.