Seeking the Lord of Middle Earth: Theological Essays on J. R. R. Tolkien

J. R. R. Tolkien the beloved author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings brings to his work a great treasure--his Christian faith. Tolkiens literary works are so popular in part because in some sense they pertain to the real world. This present volume is an attempt to understand better the deep Christian influences on his work but also to explore the relevance of Tolkiens work for theology today. After examining Tolkiens fiction in order better to appreciate Christian influences this volume takes a closer look at Tolkiens theology of fantasy his response to the more skeptical origins of religion research and applies his work to contemporary questions about method in biblical studies. Tolkiens Christianity informed all he wrote. Moreover his own theology of fantasy holds great promise for contemporary theology. The more one reads The Lord of the Rings the more one realizes that like the mines of Moria it is rich with hidden treasure. Jeffrey Morrow mines the often concealed depths to reveal the layers of theology embedded gemlike within the pages of Tolkiens work. With a true theologians insight he brings to light the brilliance of Tolkiens fundamentally religious work. --Joseph Pearce author of Tolkien: Man & Myth and Frodos Journey: Discovering the Hidden Meaning of The Lord of the Rings Jeffrey L. Morrow (PhD University of Dayton) is Associate Professor of Theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology at Seton Hall University and is a Senior Fellow of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology.