The Tolkien Road

A podcast about Middle-earth and all things Tolkien.

0258 – Defeating Evil » A Middle-earth Guide

In episode 258, we continue our exploration of what Tolkien meant by Lord of the Rings being “fundamentally religious and Catholic” as we explore the connection between Middle-earth mythology and key Christian ideas.  

Also, we’re joined by Michael Jahosky as our guest co-host! You can learn more about all of Michael’s work at MythicMission.com.  

By the way, I interviewed Michael back in Episode 247 about his book, The Good News of the Return of the King! Definitely check both of those out!

Join us!

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

  • Andrew T
  • John R
  • Ms. Anonymous

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

Lord of the Rings & Christmas - An Unexpected Connection

Lord of the Rings & Christmas – An Unexpected Connection

A few years ago, my family watched the entire Lord of the Rings film trilogy over Christmas break (extended editions, OF COURSE).

It was great, and to my delight, it left a deep impression on my kids.

It just felt like perfect Christmas viewing.

Which is odd, because The Lord of the Rings has nothing to do with Christmas…

OR DOES IT?

While The Lord of the Rings is certainly NOT a Christmas story in any straightforward sense (Legolas ain’t one of Santa’s Elves), a deep dive into the writings of Tolkien yields a profound and surprising connection between Lord of the Rings and Christmas.

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Lore of the Rings Interview » Why and How The Lord of the Rings is a "Religious and Catholic Work"

Lore of the Rings Interview » Why and How The Lord of the Rings is a “Religious and Catholic Work”

Hey there, fellow travellers!
Merry Christmas! I was recently a guest on the Lore of the Rings podcast – that’s L-O-R-E – where I joined host Aaron to discuss the ways in which Lord of the Rings is a “fundamentally religous work”.
We uncovered:
– The grace Faramir says before sharing a meal with Frodo and Sam.
– The liturgical significance of March 25 — the day the One Ring was destroyed.
– The mysterious Three Prayers of Númenor, preserved in Unfinished Tales.
– Why Tolkien preferred absorbed symbolism over overt allegory.
I wanted to share a portion of this interview on The Tolkien Road’s podcast feed, but you really need to go check out the whole thing over on Aaron’s feed.
Enjoy!

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The Mythic Mind with Andrew Snyder » The Tolkien Road Episode 322

0322 » The Mythic Mind with Andrew Snyder

In episode 322, I’m joined by Andrew Snyder of The Mythic Mind podcast. We talk Middle-earth, Tolkien, Christianity, Kierkegaard, The Shadow, and the consolation that Tolkien provided in Andrew’s life during a very dark period. Join us!

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How Tolkien Saved My Life

0300 » How Tolkien Saved My Life

Join us for an in-depth discussion of “Of Beleriand and Its Realms”, the 14th chapter of The Silmarillion. Get the most out of your Silmarillion reading from this exploration of the map of Middle-earth’s First Age.

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TOLKIEN'S TRAGEDY
Now Available!

I’m excited to announce that my new book, Tolkien‘s Tragedy, is now available for purchase!