Tolkien Talk Returns By Popular Demand

(from www.churchofscotland.org.uk)

An Edinburgh theology scholar is making a return visit to Middle Earth for another look at the spiritual influences which inspired Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien.

Last November, Dr Nathan Hood, the current Hope Trust Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Edinburgh, presented a talk on how Christian themes influenced Tolkien's fantasy fiction, including The Lord of the Rings, which was named the UK's best-loved book in a 2003 survey by the BBC.

That event attracted a sizable live audience to St Andrew's Wallace Green Church in Berwick-on-Tweed, were Dr Hood's father Adam is minister, along with a further 300 views online.

Its reception has prompted a further talk, which will again take place at St Andrew's Wallace Green Church and will be available online.

Dr Hood has been a devotee of JRR Tolkien and his fantastical worlds ever since his father took him to see director Peter Jackson's hit film adaptations at the age of eight.

"When you analyse the story and themes, you can see that his mythology was shaped by distinctly Christian ideas," Dr Hood said.

"The moral framework of his writing was strongly influenced by his Christian faith."

Entitled, JRR Tolkien and The Hope of Easter, Dr Hood's new talk will take place at 7pm on Wednesday, April 5th, and will also be streamed online.

The talk can be accessed online here.