When I was teaching college English, one of my students once said, "It must be terribly boring to teach literature." Obviously that student had not explored the power of words, the adventures of the imagination. Every English teacher I have known has lived life rich in adventure--even a man named J.R.R. Tolkien, who was Professor of Medieval Studies at Oxford University in England. He used to go out into the woods near his home and dance with his wife under the moonlight. And he wrote some books about hobbits who live in a place called Middle-earth.
I love "The Lord of the Rings." I was a teenager when
I first read "The Hobbit" and the ring trilogy ("Fellowship
of the Ring", "The Two Towers," and "The Return
of the King"). The only thing I was sorry about after I finished
those books was that I could not read them again for the first
time.
I remember thinking how long Frodo's journey lasted. I felt tired
just reading about it. Tolkien's words put me in the wasteland
of Mordor, thirsty and hungry and lame, my eyes steadily fixed
on Sauron's burning tower. I was impressed by Sam's loyalty as
he supported the heavy-hearted Frodo. I admired Gandalf who used
his wisdom to fight evil. I wanted to meet the elves--tall and
graceful and wise--guardians of forest and rivers, healers, oldest
of all the races.
I wanted to date someone like Aragorn, heir of the king who cut
The Ring from Sauron's hand. Aragorn, strong and trustworthy,
was the best of the young race of Man--the Chosen One who would
bring peace to Middle-earth.
Most of all, I liked Frodo, simple and brave. He was a hobbit
from the peaceful Shire, a farming country filled with parties
and food. Frodo never studied witchcraft or asked to go on a quest.
He didn't want the task given to him: carry the evil Ring to Mount
Doom and throw it into the fire where it was made.
The tone of Tolkien's writing lured me into his world, his vision
of the heroic tale, his own creative soul. The descriptions, the
settings, the character development all complemented the graceful
sound of Tolkien's poetic sentences and Elvish language.
I read almost everything of Tolkien's, including the history of
Middle-earth, "The Silmarillion." I read Tolkien's authorized
biography. I read about how Tolkien was friends with C.S. Lewis,
another of my favorite writers. I read just about everything C.S.
Lewis wrote. I got a Master's degree in English and taught college
for awhile. I thought I had a handle on the idea of heroic literature.
But there is more to "The Lord of the Rings" than can
be learned in a college class.
Tolkien never considered" The Lord of the Rings" as
children's books. All of the characters are adults. Tolkien was
a Christian and considered his books to be religious and Christian
in nature, though he did not make them allegories (as C.S. Lewis
did in his fiction). Tolkien saw the Gospel of Christ as the Real
Story, the true heroic tale of God's sacrificial, redemptive love
for us. Tolkien believed that all of our invented stories are
mirrors of the Real, coming from the part of us that longs for
our lives to mean something, that longs for a relationship with
God and God's people. Tolkien shared this idea with Lewis, who
was an atheist at that time. Lewis thought about the possibility
that in The Gospel all our heroic tales somehow come true. A few
days later, C.S. Lewis became a Christian.
The idea of God is woven subtly into Tolkien's books. In "The
Silmarillion," Tolkien writes about The One who made the
universe and everything in it, who guides and protects the events
and people of Middle-earth.
But instead of drawing long quotes from the books, let's look
at the first movie which captures Tolkien's vision.
I am a fan of Peter Jackson's films. I've seen" Lord of the
Rings: Fellowship of the Ring" several times. Before it came
out on DVD, I went with Andrea Smith, a seventeen-year-old high
school student, babysitter of my kids, and editor for my books.
We sat together, commenting on crucial scenes and memorizing lines.
She thought Frodo was cute. I thought Legolas, the elf archer,
was also cute. We debated on whether or not Gandalf the Wizard
is a sorcerer or a wise man (the word "wizard" can mean
either).
I admit that the film isn't perfect. Peter Jackson changed a lot
of things from the book. Some of the changes were good, such as
the fast pace of the film (the book is very long). Some changes
are not good. The wizard battle scene was overdone (it wasn't
even described in the book). Jackson could have spent less time
showing orcs' heads getting lopped off and more time developing
characters. Tolkien wrote very little about orcs and battle scenes.
He spent far more time describing the natural settings of Middle-earth.
I guess Jackson used violence because some people say "cool"
when the bad guy gets stuck with an arrow between the eyes. But
violence should not be so much a focus. Jackson could have shown
it less directly (a bloody sword instead of a stab in the face,
for example). A lot of people would rather look at Frodo or an
elf, or the beautiful scenery of New Zealand with mountains stretching
to the sea.
But let me state the reasons I love the film--and why I think
it presents a Christian rather than a non-Christian world view.
I do have some problems with the fact that Gandalf is a wizard.
This could lead someone toward witchcraft. Even though Tolkien
did not use "wizard" in the witchcraft sense, it could
still be a problem if a person obsesses over The Lord of the Rings.
We must remember that the story is, after all, not absolute truth--but
one man's vision. At least Gandalf is a humble wizard. He does
not know everything. He treats Bilbo and Frodo with kindness and
respect, encouraging them to do the right thing with The Ring
but not forcing them. When Bilbo refuses at first, Gandalf shows
his well-controlled power, saying:
"Do not take me for some conjurer of cheap tricks."
We never see Gandalf mixing herbs into a cauldron or reading from
a witchcraft book. When he does speak in a special language, it
is Elvish.
After Bilbo finally abandons The Ring to his unsuspecting nephew
Frodo, Gandalf doesn't even dare to pick it up. He lets Frodo
do that--then hide it safely away. Gandalf leaves to research
the historical records because he doesn't know enough about The
Ring. When he returns to The Shire, he sadly explains The Ring
to Frodo, after Frodo takes it from the fireplace and sees the
fiery letters on it:
Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the
sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One Ring to rule them all,
One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all
and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
Gandalf knows how much trouble Frodo will
face if he carries The Ring to its doom. His wrinkled eyes express
his sorrow, but he knows that only hobbits can perform the task.
Gandalf gives Frodo a companion--his nosy gardener Sam--and the
two begin their journey. Gandalf leaves in another direction,
to consult with the wizard Saruman, who has become an ally of
the evil Ring-maker, Sauron.
Gandalf begins to suspect this when he enters Saruman's tower
of Isengard and warns him not to look into a Seeing Stone, for
"you cannot be sure who is watching on the other side."
Saruman does not listen to Gandalf. The two wizards do battle
with their staffs, and it is obvious that Saruman's power comes
from the evil Sauron while Gandalf's comes from a totally different
source.
The book shows this better than the film. In "The Council
of Elrond" chapter, Elrond and Gandalf condemn "sorcery."
Gandalf explains that Saruman has become evil because of his pride
and lust for power and that "It is perilous to study too
deeply the arts of the Enemy, for good or for ill" (page
345, Ballantine Edition).
Before he escapes from Saruman's tower, Gandalf explains that
The Ring was made by the evil Sauron who is like a lidless eye
wreathed in fire, always watching. The Ring will corrupt anyone
who wears it. It must be destroyed. One cannot compromise with
evil.
"There is one Lord of the Ring," he warns Saruman, "and
he does not share power."
Gandalf is rescued by the King of the Eagles and rejoins the two
hobbits at Rivendell. Others join the quest to destroy the ring:
Aragorn, the human heir of Gondor, the elf Legolas, the dwarf
Gimli, Frodo's hobbit friends Pippin and Merry, and Boromir, another
human.
Gandalf leads The Fellowship of the Ring over the snowy mountains.
Gandalf doesn't want to go through the dark Mines of Moria, but
the blizzard forces him. Once inside the mines, he has a talk
with Frodo who misses the sunny Shire.
"I wish the ring had never come to me," the hobbit says.
"I wish none of this had happened."
"So do all who face such times," Gandalf replies. "But
that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what
to do with the time that is given to us. . . There are other forces
at work in this world, Frodo, besides that of evil. Bilbo was
meant to find the ring, in which case you also were meant to have
it."
Gandalf has a sense of God's protection and sacrificial love.
He shows this best when he faces the demon at the bridge of Khaza-dum.
"I am a servant of the Secret Fire," he says as he stands
on the bridge and blocks the path. "You cannot pass."
The light from his staff crystal glows like a halo around him,
and the demon falls into the pit, dragging Gandalf in after him.
Other characters in the film show compassion, wisdom, and courage.
Arwen, the elf princess, is a good addition to the film. In the
book she is barely mentioned. In the film Arwen is sent to rescue
Frodo. She shows an awareness of God as she carries the wounded
hobbit across the river toward Rivendell. After the Black Riders
have been swept away by a flood, she stares at Frodo who is gasping
for breath.
Tears come to her eyes as she prays:
"Whatever grace is given me, may it pass to him. Let him
be spared. Save him."
One of my favorite characters is the beautiful blonde Galadriel, Queen of the forest Elves at Lorian. She is wise and can read people's minds. Though Gimli the Dwarf calls her a sorceress, she is not one. She does not follow witchcraft books, mix spells, ride a broomstick, or wave a magic wand. Instead, she asks Frodo to look into a water mirror.
"What will I see?" he asks, afraid.
"Things that were, things that are--and some things that
have not yet come to pass," she replies mysteriously.
Frodo looks into the silver bowl. He sees the ruin of The Shire,
the trees uprooted and turned to black wasteland, and Sam being
led away in chains.
"This is what will happen if you fail," she tells him.
In the book, Galadriel discusses the mirror.
"This is what your folk would call magic, I believe; though
I do not understand clearly what they mean; and they seem also
to use the same word for the deceits of the Enemy," she says
(page 468).
Even Galadriel doesn't want to use the word magic.
Frodo offers her The Ring, and for a moment she considers it,
turning into a terrible warrior queen. But then she becomes herself
again and joyfully says,
"I have passed the test! I will diminish and go the west
and remain Galadriel." She turns and kisses Frodo on the
forehead, telling him, "Remember that even the smallest person
can change the course of the future."
When she sends the rested Frodo and his company up the river in
Elvish boats, they are wearing forest pins on green elvish cloaks.
Before they leave, Galadriel gives Frodo a glowing crystal vial.
"May it bring you light in the darkest places, when all other
lights go out," she promises.
And so the little hobbit travels on with eight companions. One
will die, and the others will be scattered while he and faithful
Sam continue toward Mordor. Frodo will remember what Gandalf told
him: "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that
is given to us."
Tolkien believed that God gives us our time. Near the end of his
life, he told a little girl that a person's highest purpose is
to learn about God, serve Him, and be thankful.
Now let's contrast "Lord of the Rings" with the "Harry
Potter" world by J.K. Rowling. I admit I am biased here (aren't
all humans biased?). I don't like the books--or the films, which
follow the books pretty well. From the first chapter of the first
book, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," I was
turned off by the tone. The book, set in modern England about
a witchcraft school for children, puts down those who don't practice
witchcraft. They are called unimaginative, boring, cruel "Muggles."
Rowling claims she did not originally mean for the Harry Potter
books to be for children. If this is so, why are the main characters
children?
One reason I don't like Harry Potter is he isn't as kind or honest
as Frodo is. Harry Potter and his friends hate Muggles or anyone
else they consider their enemies. They are out for revenge.
"'I'll get him,' said Ron, grinding his teeth at Malfoy's
back, 'One of these days, I'll get him--"
'I hate them both,' said Harry, 'Malfoy and Snape.'" (page
196)
The very non-magical Frodo is not looking for revenge. He just
wants to do his job and go home, staying out of Sauron's way as
much as possible.
In "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone", Professor
Snape turns out to have protected Harry from evil instead of cursed
him. Still, Harry makes no apologies for the way he felt about
his teacher.
At the end of the book, Harry has revengeful plans for his Muggle
family. "They don't know we're not allowed to use magic at
home. I'm going to have a lot of fun with Dudley this summer,"
he says (page 309).
Rule-breaking is rewarded in the book. Harry and his friends constantly
break school rules and get away with it. Rule-breaking even brings
adventure. When he flies on his broom against the rules, Harry
is rewarded by being put on the Quidditch (flying soccer) team,
something that rarely happens to a "first year" student.
Harry and Ron lure their friends into their rebellion, especially
Hermione, a star student. "Hermione had become a bit more
relaxed about breaking rules . . . " (page 181).
Stealing is also encouraged. When Harry's Quidditch team wins,
"Fred and George stole some cakes and stuff from the kitchens."
(page 227). Harry constantly lies to cover up his rule-breaking.
Even Professor Dumbledore, the Headmaster at the school, says
"The truth. It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should
therefore be treated with great caution" (page 298). Dumbledore
also says (concerning Harry's parents' death) "After all,
to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure"
(page 297).
Harry Potter is more of an anti-hero than an epic hero.
Violence is clearly described in the Harry Potter books. In the
first book, an evil wizard kills a unicorn and drinks its blood
in a moonlit forest. The wizard also possesses another man's body
and then kills him. The sequels ("Harry Potter and the chamber
of Secrets," "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,"
and "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire") get darker
than the first book. Violent deaths and scary battle scenes appear
more often. Ghosts and goblins populate Harry Potter's world,
and humans are possessed by spirits.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but in all the Potter books, I see no
concept of God. Society is purely secular. The characters solve
their own problems. There is no Higher Force guiding or protecting
them. True, Harry Potter's world is full of adventures, interesting
characters, humor, imagination, and surprises. One reviewer said
that the only people who don't love Harry Potter books are boring
Christians.
What is witchcraft? Webster defines it as "the use of sorcery
or magic." Though Harry Potter shows witches and wizards
as "good" or "bad," is witchcraft ever good?
What is the purpose of studying witchcraft? To battle bad witches
and wizards? Doesn't the power from witchcraft come from one source?
Professor Snape tells the students in his potion-making class:
"I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of
the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate
power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the
mind, ensnaring the senses . . . I can teach you how to bottle
fame, brew glory, even stopper death" (page 137).
J.K. Rowling is no Christian. She studied witchcraft to make the
books more believable. Exactly what she believes has never, to
my knowledge, been pinned down. I saw her interviewed for A &
E Network's "Biography" series. She claimed that her
books don't lead children into witchcraft.
"Children understand that they're just fiction," she
stated.
If that's true, why do so many children send Rowling letters asking
if they can go to Hogwort's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?
Why have kids been know to look for Platform 9 3/4 at train stations?
And why have brooms, potions, capes, wands, and crystal balls
become popular items for sale at such places as Renaissance Faires?
Witches use such things in their rituals. Visit any witchcraft
store or website and see for yourself.
The fifth book, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,"
has just come out after three years in the writing. It is nearly
900 pages long and darker than the other books. One of the major
characters dies. When Rowling was interviewed by Katie Couric
on "Dateline NBC," she said that she was very annoyed
by people who accuse her of leading children into witchcraft.
"It's utter garbage," she stated. "Not one child
comes up to me and says 'you turned me onto the occult. Let's
go sacrifice a goat together.' I believe in God. I'm on their
side."
If I were Katie, I would have asked her which God she believes
in. I've known children who have been turned toward the occult
in part, at least, because of the Harry Potter books and the sense
of power they bestow. Such a child might not go up to Rowling
and admit this. Sacrificing a goat is an extreme part of witchcraft,
not the subtle first steps.
"You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the
demons believe--and tremble!" (James 2:19).
If one believes in God, one does not necessarily serve Him.
Fiction is based, at least to some extent, on nonfiction. And
children don't have the logical reasoning abilities or experience
of adults. Children may see only make-believe fun in the books,
but that does not mean there is nothing more there.
And what does the Bible say about witchcraft? Is it harmless?
Or is it part of the dark force of Satan himself?
The Old Testament clearly states that one must avoid witchcraft,
divination, and sorcery (see Exodus 22:18, Leviticus 19:26, Deuteronomy
13:1-11).
The prophet Samuel told disobedient King Saul that "rebellion
is as the sin of witchcraft." (1 Samuel 15:23).
In the New Testament, sorcery is listed as one of the "works
of the flesh." Those who practice it "will not inherit
the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21)
I ought to know about witchcraft. I used to study it. I gave it
up when I became a Christian. Christ's love, His death for me,
and His resurrection power shine like a light into the darkness
of witchcraft.
What a witch believes and what a Christian believes are opposites.
Ouija boards, Tarot cards, and seances may seem like fun, but
they are connected to a darker force. I can walk into a witchcraft
shop and feel the dark power reaching out like an unseen hand.
Witchcraft may seem like it gives power to its users, but it actually
enslaves them. Like The One Ring, it corrupts all it touches,
turning even good intentions to evil. If you do not realize this,
you have never really dealt with witchcraft. Or you have been
deceived.
"Satan can appear like an angel of light," The Apostle
Paul warns us (2 Corinthians 11:14). In Ephesians, Paul tells
us that we have an enemy. He says that we must always be watchful
and "put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able
to stand against the wiles of the devil." He goes on to add:
"For we do not wrestle against flesh
and blood,
but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this age,
against spiritual hosts of wickedness
in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12)
There is more to Harry Potter than harmless fun and children's literature. Go into any bookstore and see what is displayed with the Harry Potter books. You will find books on witchcraft and casting spells. On the Halloween when the first Harry Potter movie came out, my local mountain library offered a children's Harry Potter night, complete with witchcraft and wizardry lessons.
The Apostle John, in his first letter to the churches, warned
of the spirit of antichrist that is in the world. The world eagerly
listens to that popular voice because the world "lies under
the sway of the evil one." John also said that Christians
are not part of that world system. We are separate from the world,
so the world won't listen to us. The line between Harry Potter
and Christians is well drawn. Where do you stand?
I'm sure my objections are like a pebble tossed into the ocean
next to a hurricane. J.K. Rowling's books, traditionally released
at midnight to hordes of excited children wearing starry wizard
hats and black-rimmed glasses, packed into bookstores to wait
in long lines, have sold 200 million copies in 200 countries in
55 languages. The two films have made 1.8 billion dollars. Her
books have made Rowling richer than the Queen of England.
If I met Jo Rowling, I would probably like her. As a mother of
young children, I used to write parts of my books on scraps of
paper at coffee houses. Jo and I even have daughters the same
age, both named Jessica. Perhaps Rowling doesn't fully realize
the power of witchcraft. And I do need to thank her for helping
to inspire me to write my own "Selah" fantasy trilogy,
my alternative to Harry Potter, a Christian view in which I show
The Craft as an evil thing that enslaves people. Selah the slave
escapes the hot valleys and journeys to freedom in the mountains.
Along the way, she discovers romance, the beauty of God's creation,
and the joy of bringing light back down to the darkness.
As a cancer survivor, I felt sad when I read the story in "Time"
magazine about the little girl named Catie Hoch who died of a
brain tumor shortly after her ninth birthday. I commend Rowling
for emailing, calling the girl on the phone to discuss Harry Potter,
and sending presents in the mail. But I wonder if Catie was given
any real hope of eternal life.
As Jesus said when he raised his friend Lazarus from the dead,
"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me,
though he may die, he shall live." (John 11:25).
Surely Christ's Good News of eternal life holds more power than
Harry Potter ever found.
There really are monsters in this world. Harry Potter lures us
toward them. Lord of the Rings shows us what they really are.
But don't take my word for all of this. Study the Bible. Put it
to the test. See if the Gospel really is the Greatest Adventure.
Maybe you'll find yourself on a Quest, clothed in armor, sword
in hand, fighting the enemy.
But don't lose focus. Don't stay in the battle scenes. Keep your
eyes on Christ. He has the final battle plans. He has already
won. He, like the Returning King, will bring peace to Middle-earth.
***************************************************************************************
Lonna Lisa Williams has a Master's degree
in English, specializing in children's and British literature.
She is a writer and a cancer survivor. You can see selections
from her books (with photos) on her website at www.lonnawilliams.com
or buy them at www.amazon.com.
Lonna lives with her husband and children in the California mountains.
"The Silmarillion" and "The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien" by J. R. R. Tolkien.
"J. R. R. Tolkien: A Biography" by Humphrey Carpenter.
"Finding God in The Lord of the Rings" by Kurt Bruner and Jim Ware.
"The Lord of the Rings Official Movie Guide" by Brian Sibley.
"Tolkien's Ordinary Virtues" by Mark Eddy Smith.
"Mere Christianity" and "Surprised by Joy" by C. S. Lewis.
"Harry Potter and the Bible" by Richard Abanes.
"J. K. Rowling: The Wizard Behind Harry Potter" by Marc Shapiro.
"J. K. Rowling: A Biography" by Sean Smith.
"Conversations With J. K. Rowling" by Lindsey Fraser & J. K. Rowling.
"Harry Potter: Witchcraft Repackaged" video by Loyal Publishing, 2001.
http://www.thelordoftherings.net
http://www.thetolkienforum.com
http://www.thelordoftherings.com
