Looking for Tolkienists
 

I'm looking for followers of the Tolkienist Religion. Please keep in mind I'm not posting this to have a religious debate or answer a million questions. I am lonely since this religion is not common and I'd like someone to share it with. Please do not reply unless you have information that will help me--I have been hurt many times in other forums. :(
Tolkienists are people who worship Iluvatar and the Valar. This idea is laughable to many, and if you feel this way, please do not respond.

May the grace of the Valar protect you!

Tatharlin

Re: Looking for Tolkienists
 

Just one thing. I don't think that you should be calling it Tolkienism seeing as Tolkien himself didn't practice the worship of Illuvatar or the Valar.

Re: Looking for Tolkienists
 

True, nor is it the worship of Tolkien.

Re: Looking for Tolkienists
 

So please I love LOTR and all of Tolkiens work please call it some thing els I have been called A Tolkienist and I do not worship any of it. And I do not mean to afend you I am sorry if I have I joust do not like what you are calling it.

Re: Looking for Tolkienists
 

-Tolkienists are regarded those people who look at all the manuscripts Tolkien wrote and try to look at middle-earth as being a fantasy of Tolkien. They look at what might have influenced Tolkien to write what he did and seek out any changes he made to the story and why.
-Ardalogists are considered the ones that take a more in-story approach to it all. Regarding the tales as true they try to answer questions about middle-earth by using all that was put into words about ME by Tolkien using a middle-earthian view.
I hope that was of help to you.

Of these I think some of the latter might endulge in the worship of Illúvatar. But not many. Why so? Because it is fairly new, and it is based on writings, fantasies and stories made up by Tolkien. I'm pretty sure that Tolkien specifically stated that middle-earth was just a setting for his invented languages. Some people might say that in fact middle-earth existed and that we are living in the same world only millennia later and that Tolkien only translated the manuscripts that he found. I believe they need to get a realitycheck. But then again most religions are all about a set of moral guidelines, the existance of a or several gods and accompanying stories with some more and some less authentic historic accuracy.

I myself have read and reread the wonderful Ainulindalë and deem it just as believable as any other creation story. If the circumstances were different and I didn't know that Tolkien made it up I'd maybe even be tempted to actually believe it. But now it is just a story to me and I love to endulge in seeking out little know facts about middle-earth.

I am curious what you yourself think about the religion Tatharlin. What exactly does it contain and what does it mean to you?

Re: Looking for Tolkienists
 

I picked up this name from Russia in the Cold war--I didn't know what else I could refer to it as--Valarism? Now I see the name didn't make too much sense. No matter.
It is a great love for Middle-earth that put me in this position. Many problems resulted because of my decision into my religion, many things I could never dream of. Even now that I know these confllicts, I never regret this decision.
To tell you a small story, I was once a Christian. I never found any passion nor love in it, however, and I was only a Christian for a month or so. When I found the Ainulindale, I found a love such I have never known since. And it changed my life--for better, and for worse. It's a complicated matter few people understand.
If this doesn't stem the flow of your curiousity, feel welcome to ask to ask more. Now I realize it is by making people familar with my religion I can recieve help.

Re: Looking for Tolkienists
 

Ok so you once were a Christian but found no love. Therefore I assume you did not understand the love beyond all reckoning that God had for you when he sent his only son to die on the cross and be raised from the dead, or same love that Jesus had for you when he performed that.

Believe it or not Tolkien was a Christian, he loved the Bible so much that he wanted to interpret parts of it into something he loved, something he had created too, Middle Earth. Tolkien was a Christian, and so am I, I don't understand how if the ME you love so much came from a man who was inspired of it from the Bible that you don't want to seek that same religion that he found so much love and happiness in.

Re: Looking for Tolkienists
 

Thank you. I've had many people tell me this already.

Re: Looking for Tolkienists
 

I must admit it is strange to take a story a man has made up, and take it as a religion.

Sounds alot like Scientology to me, where even though the whole thing was made up, and the creator announced it so on his death bed, people still believe.

I don't mean to offend you, Tatharlin, but you do know that Tolkien created these stories purely for entertainment....don't you ?

Re: Looking for Tolkienists
 

True, he did create them for entertainment and was Christian (Catholic, I think) but writing these stories did become most of his life. It does seem strange to worship Illuvatar and the Valar, but I respect your beliefs, Tatharlin.

Re: Looking for Tolkienists
 

Tatharlin I am in love with ME and all of Tolkien books, and I am a Christian. So if you would please tell me why even though you now what Tolkien was a Christian, that you still believe that he made a religion, and that the religion was not just what he did believe that it was something beyond that?

Re: Looking for Tolkienists
 

To tell you the absolute truth, Lady of Lorien, I do not generally respect Tolkien. I believe the reason he called his works Fantasy, or Mythology, if you like, was because his family/friends etc were Christians, and they had the same expectations of him. For him to have thoughts otherwise, or to produce a sacred book, would be absurd to them. In other words, Tolkien would do anything to remain politically correct.

Re: Looking for Tolkienists
 

This is an odd topic, i must admit, but i think Tolkien himself would find this worshipping of his literature offensive.

Re: Looking for Tolkienists
 

really, he was a christian, he did not worship his own work.
I just dont see it.

Re: Looking for Tolkienists
 

It is because he put a lot of his beliefs in is work that people find a religion I his books. Tatharlin do you pray to the valar?