(October 9, 2015 at 2:46 pm)ChadWooters Wrote:(October 7, 2015 at 11:46 pm)TheRocketSurgeon Wrote: Holy crap, that's funny. I'll see your fantasy literature, and raise you:
"Then Ilúvatar spoke, and he said: 'Mighty are the Ainur, and mightiest among them is Melkor; but that he may know, and all the Ainur, that I am Ilúvatar, those things that ye have sung, I will show them forth, that ye may see what ye have done. And thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined'."
- JRR Tolkien, The Silmarillion
Tolkien was a prominent Christian and his writings reflect it every bit as much as C. S. Lewis. Just thought you should know.
Just got back from my trip... and saw this. Snorted Dr. Pepper through a sinus. I've gotta stop reading the forum with a drink in one hand!
Why in the world would you think I would care the religion of the author? Yes, I'm aware that Tolkien (and his son Christopher) were devout Catholics.
My point is that Tolkien's fantasy world (which was openly taken, in part, from all Western mythology/legends, including Christianity) is no sillier than what that guy was trying to tell us, earlier in the thread.
Indeed, Tolkien seems to have written it better.
A Christian told me: if you were saved you cant lose your salvation. you're sealed with the Holy Ghost
I replied: Can I refuse? Because I find the entire concept of vicarious blood sacrifice atonement to be morally abhorrent, the concept of holding flawed creatures permanently accountable for social misbehaviors and thought crimes to be morally abhorrent, and the concept of calling something "free" when it comes with the strings of subjugation and obedience perhaps the most morally abhorrent of all... and that's without even going into the history of justifying genocide, slavery, rape, misogyny, religious intolerance, and suppression of free speech which has been attributed by your own scriptures to your deity. I want a refund. I would burn happily rather than serve the monster you profess to love.
I replied: Can I refuse? Because I find the entire concept of vicarious blood sacrifice atonement to be morally abhorrent, the concept of holding flawed creatures permanently accountable for social misbehaviors and thought crimes to be morally abhorrent, and the concept of calling something "free" when it comes with the strings of subjugation and obedience perhaps the most morally abhorrent of all... and that's without even going into the history of justifying genocide, slavery, rape, misogyny, religious intolerance, and suppression of free speech which has been attributed by your own scriptures to your deity. I want a refund. I would burn happily rather than serve the monster you profess to love.
