The Ring and the Cross: Christianity in the Writings of J.R.R. Tolkien by Paul E. Kerry (02.02.11 by Pieter Collier) - Comments

It was around 2009 when I heard that an anthology of scholarly articles about Tolkien and religion was going to be released. Back then it was said that it would be released by Walking Tree publishers. This morning however I noticed that this anthology has finally arrived and has been published by Fairleigh Dickinson University Press. I'm still a bit confused about the publication date, since it is available for order but on the other hand has a publication date set for March 6 this year. Among the contributors are Joseph Pearce (Tolkien: A Celebration) and Bradley J. Birzer (J. R. R. tolkien's Sanctifying Myth: Understanding Middle-Earth).

The conversation, sometimes very heated, about the influence of Christianity on the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien has a long history. A lot has been written about Tolkien and Christianity.

What has been lacking is a forum for a civilized discussion about the topic, as well as a chronological overview of the major arguments and themes that have engaged scholars about the impact of Christianity on tolkien's oeuvre, with particular reference to The Lord of the Rings.

The Ring and the Cross: Christianity in the Writings of J.R.R. Tolkien addresses these two needs through its articulate and authoritative analyses of J.R.R. tolkien's Roman Catholicism and the role it plays in understanding his writings.

The volume's contributors deftly explain the kinds of interpretations put forward and evidence marshaled when arguing for or against religious influence.

The Ring and the Cross invites its readers to draw their own conclusions about a subject that has fascinated tolkien's readers since the publication of The Lord of the Rings, tolkien's masterpiece.

One thing is certain the cover looks stunning and inviting to read.

About the Author

Paul E. Kerry is an associate professor of history at Brigham Young University and visiting fellow at The Centre for the Study of Jewish-Christian Relations and research associate at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.

List of contributors

Nils Ivar Agoy; Bradley J. Birzer;Jason Boffetti; Marjorie Burns; Carson L. Holloway; John R. Holmes; Ronald Hutton; Paul E. Kerry; Catherine Madsen; Chris Mooney; Stephen Morillo; Joseph Pearce; Michael Tomko; Ralph C. Wood

Table of contents

* Introduction Paul E. Kerry

# Part I: The Ring
* The Pagan Tolkien Ronald Hutton
* The Christian Tolkien: A Response to Ronald Hutton Nils Ivar Agoy
* The Entwives: Investigating the Spritual Core ofLord of the Rings Stephen Morillo
* "Like Heathen Kings:" Religion as Palimpsest in tolkien's Fiction John R. Holmes
* Confronting the World's Weirdness: J. R. R. tolkien'sThe Children of Hurin Ralph C. Wood
* Eru Erased: The Minimalist Cosmology ofThe Lord of the Rings Catherine Madsen
* The Ring and the Cross: How J. R. R. Tolkien Became a Christian Writer Chris Mooney

# Part II: The Cross
* Redeeming Sub-Creation Carson L. Holloway
* Catholic Scholar, Catholic Sub-Creator Jason Boffetti
* "An Age Comes On:" J. R. R. Tolkien and the English Catholic Sense of History Michael Tomko
* The Lord of the Rings and the Catholic Understanding of Community Joseph Pearce
* Tracking Catholic Influence inThe Lord of the Rings Paul E. Kerry
* Saintly and Distant Mothers Marjorie Burns
* The "Last Battle" as a Johannine Ragnarok: Tolkien and the Universal Bradley J. Birzer

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