to see Christian allegories in the works of Tolkien, but I think that is
because the story involves the battle of good and evil. I see this as more a
case of universal truths and themes than an inherently Christian message. I
choose to see it in a humanist vein, being an atheist. Tolkien's works are no
where near as overtly religious as his good friend and fellow Inkling CS Lewis.
Indeed, I can see an argument available for fundamentalists to say that Tolkien
was geretical, because he created a pantheon of gods for the purposes of the
books. Tolkien protests himself that it is a story, and there are not intended
to be any "hidden truths" or allegories contained within
it.
