(source) Before WWII, British Intelligence chiefs singled out Tolkien and other intellectuals to work at Bletchley park, the code-breaking centre in Buckinghamshire.
Author’s Caveat: This post is in no way a blanket endorsement of the the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien. Parents will need to determine the maturity level of their children. Since these fantasies include magic, violence, and extreme adventure, I strongly encourage parents to learn for themselves the content of each story before sharing with a child as each family has different convictions of what is acceptable. By 18 years, our young adults were ready for a full appreciation of the books and movies, but I have to say that when Hollywood takes hold of any great work, elements of darkness are added into it that were not intended in the original work. Some things are “meant to be read and to be at our own imagination”, so it is the books I primarily recommend, to be read and chewed upon for a while. First and foremost, we measure everything by the Word of God, using wisdom given to us by the Holy Spirit.
Though maybe not a widely held view (but a controversial one), I believe that J.R.R. Tolkien’s vastly popular creative life work makes a significant contribution to today’s Christian theological discussion, most especially with regard to the purpose of the Christian life and our role in pointing others to faith in Jesus Christ….
