The Lord of the Rings is an allegorical fairytale. To take it literally is frankly the height of absurdity. Don't read Shakespeare's classic Macbeth because three witches are central to the story. I could go on with many other examples. Allegory is not reality. Literalists fail to see the deeper meaning of texts, that there are different literary styles. A literalist could read Animal Farm and then report the author George Orwell to the RSPCA for animal cruelty.
The Pope quoted Lord of the Rings in his last encyclical Magnifica Humanitis. Leo XIV quotes one of Gandalf’s famous speeches: “It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till.”
When did i say that to have a witch in a book is contrary to Catholic teaching? When did i say i would not read a book with a witch in it? Witches and wizards perform spells, sorcery, magic ,etc in which the Church condemns. To portray witches or wizards as good is contrary to catholic teaching. And to patronize such books and movies those people condone them. Why would a Catholic be interested in something that goes against what the Church teaches? The Church cost Jesus his life.
Many Catholics will argue that Genesis is allegorical too. That the whole narrative in it is entirely symbolic yet divinely inspired. Which makes it all the more mysterious.
If you want to live a spirituality of rigidity and scrupulosity, that is fine. I’ll stick with the Magisterium. Yes, it’s best to just agree to disagree.
I think it is "both and" from my admittedly limited experience with God's ways. It seems when He acts upon a prayer He does both figuratively and literally. So the symbols and mythic elements are in Genesis but the reality of First parents and the First Fall are also there.
Well this is an interesting thread. Because Jesus liked stories by using the parables. There is a lesson in storytelling. I always liked the Good Samaritan. By the title alone it suggests that out of all the Samaritans, there was one good one. Therefore, the rest of them are bad. Or does it suggest that the rest of them or mediocre but one was better? I always wondered about the terminology. But it was the history of the day. And even in stories we have Saints who used nature to teach. Perhaps Gandolf was not using magic but miracles. I know I saw the movie but I honestly don’t remember all of it. St Patrick fought a Druid King. Elijah fought with miracles … good vs bad. What is the intent of the lesson? To be light or dark. I avoid all things “magic”, it suggests not believing in God but another false God. But I believe in miracles that take me to the True God, like the parting of the water. Perhaps many humans are confused between the two and don’t understand the end result is what counts. Separating the goats from the sheep. Ok I’m rambling now, but you know where your heart is.
Yeah, so many layers. For me Genesis is a dream like book. There is this thing with Sodom and Gomorrah where we find pillars of salt and balls of sulphur on the ground. Was the narrative regarding Sodom and Gomorrah made to explain these phenomenah, but also the errors of active SS relationships? Was there evidence they had of a great flood, so the story of Noah came out. Or are all the accounts entirely real? There is evidence for so much. Lots of truths can be embedded in stories.
Our son shared these this morning from beach where he is with his family. Our granddaughters saw it and said we need to send pictures to Grammy. I thought what a blessing and gift that when thet see Jesus, they think of Alyce.
O am tha One year in Catholic school, we put our shoes in the hall for St Nicholas to fill with goodies! Yes he is so real.
Since when did the Magisterium speak ex cathedra on the Lord of the Rings? He did not. I'll stick with the teaching of the Church that teaches sorcery, spells, charms, incantations, magic are evil that are performed by wizards and witches. And to portray Gandalf (a wizard) as good goes against what the Church teaches. Im ridgid? I have a name for you- undisciplined. A disciplined Church is a Holy Church.
God bless you Mark. You are faithful and careful. Nothing wrong with that. But it doesn't make the others wrong. It is not a one size fits all issue. Maryrose is right. We must agree to disagree and give the subject a rest.
I came across a phrase that is appropriate to our times, 'things quicken in the end'. We are at the end of the times (Garabandal) - the end of the this age before rebirth into a new era of peace.
I can no longer sit on the beach the sun is so intense, and I pretty much lived on the beach when my children were young. I also cannot function without my sunglasses. I thought I was the only one too.
Harry Potter books and movies are very dark. The priests are correct, these stories can place you in spiritual danger. They target innocent children who can easily become obsessed with the spells.
