The Tolkien Road

A podcast about Middle-earth and all things Tolkien.

0254 – Númenor’s Religion (and Purpose)

Why did Númenor exist? Was it simply to reward the Edain and their descendants? Or was there some greater purpose that impacted the rest of Arda, and perhaps even the Cosmos?

In this episode, we are focusing on The Religion of Númenor, per a passage from Unfinished Tales’ “A Description of Númenor”. This is a very important topic for a number of reasons, but I want to highlight two specifically.

First, Tolkien famously (and as it turns out controversially) called Lord of the Rings a “fundamentally religious and Catholic work”. What exactly he meant by this is a subject of much debate, and likely key to understanding what he meant to do with the work.

Second, religion is a subject that has been of foundational importance in every human civilization in recorded history. Religion informs how we see ourselves and the meaning of our lives. Therefore, to know that Númenor had an actual religion is key to understanding what Númenor was all about. Indeed, there may be no more important topic for the producers of LOTR on Prime to think about and incorporate into the show if they want to make it truly worthy of Tolkien’s name.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

  • Andrew T
  • John R
  • Ms. Anonymous

CONTENTS

  • Why Discuss Númenor’s Religion? »  2:42
  • The Religion of Númenor per Unfinished Tales » 4:50
  • Discussion of the passage » 7:50
  • Connection to the Ban » 16:00
  • “Fundamentally Religious and Catholic” » 27:45
  • Mailbag » 31:15

LINKS

SHOUT-oUTS

Special thanks to the following patrons: 

  • Andrew T
  • John R
  • Ms. Anonymous
  • Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien
  • Shannon S
  • Brian O
  • Emilio P
  • Zeke F
  • James A
  • James L
  • Chris L
  • Chuck F
  • Asya V
  • Ish of the Hammer
  • Teresa C
  • David of Pints with Jack
  • Jonathan D
  • Eric S
  • Joey S
  • Eric B
  • Johanna T
  • Mike M
  • Robert H
  • Paul D
  • Julia
  • Werty

RELATED EPISODES

Ep255 - Lord of the Rings "Religious and Catholic" » What Did Tolkien Mean?

0255 – Lord of the Rings “Religious and Catholic” » What Did Tolkien Mean?

Join us as we explore Tolkien’s famous and controversial proclamation that Lord of the Rings is “fundamentally religious and Catholic”. Just what did he mean by that? How much does it matter for deepening our appreciation of Lord of the Rings and of Middle-earth?

CONTENT
– Disclaimer for the Non-Religious » 1:55
– Fr Robert Murray » 6:25
– The Letter » 12:26
– “The order of Grace” » 21:14
– Mary = “All my perception of beauty” » 29:28
– “A fundamentally religious and Catholic work” » 32:19
– “Unconsciously at first / Consciously in the revision” » 36:27

Read More »

TOLKIEN'S TRAGEDY
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