Unlocking the Catholicism of "The Lord of the Rings" | Joseph Pearce
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- Опубліковано 6 кві 2015
- Tolkien expert Joseph Pearce delivered a public lecture titled “Unlocking the Catholicism of The Lord of the Rings” at Christendom College on March 30, in which he revealed the deep, theological truths that permeate Tolkien’s masterpiece.
Pearce, the director of the Center for Faith and Culture at Aquinas College, is the co-editor of the St. Austin Review, and one of the world’s most acclaimed authors. Born in London, England, Pearce was formerly involved with radical politics in his youth, before a discovery of the works of G.K. Chesterton led him to convert to Roman Catholicism in 1989.
This lecture was part of the college’s Major Speaker’s Program, an important aspect of the academic life at the College that offers the students and community an opportunity for cultural, intellectual, and spiritual enrichment beyond the classroom. Through the program, students are able to gain greater insights and depth of understanding of important issues, and to interact personally with a wide range of men and women who are shapers and critics of our society.
Watch and listen to more lectures from Christendom at media.christendom.edu.
it's amazing how, after years of wandering from the church, reading the Lord of the Rings has steered me unwittingly back towards the faith
Welcome home!!
Remember, it was conversations with Tolkien that were key to C. S. Lewis coming to Christ. So, you are in good company!
Same here - It’s always been at the back of my heart I guess it never really left me while I drifted from it
Completely get it. 👏👏😌
I love listening to this chap since I first saw him on Pints with Aquinas.
Tremendous, I think Pearce is one of the top notch people when it comes to commentary on Tolkien.
And Shakespeare
Yes. And our beloved Chesterton
Loved to learn more about the only book i read three times in a row 😊
Only three times? Lol. 😂
I'd like to recommend two "must reads" about the Lord of the Rings: Craig Bernthal's "Tolkien's Sacramental Vision" and Fleming Rutledge's "The Battle for Middle Earth". These books are really mind blowing.
I learned so much, thank you so much Joseph Pearse and ChristendomTube for posting this =0)
Reading the battle scenes in Maccabees! Elephants in battle.
I'd heard of the connection of the Fellowship's journey from Dec 25-March 25 (Christmas-Crucifixion, life of Christ), but his analogy of the Ring to Sin (to fade, to be more visible in the world of darkness and less in life) was great. 25:00 to 27
Great talk! Thank you Mr. Pearce!
Wow. Loved this. Especially the ending. Tolkien, he continually bends my mind.
Glad you all enjoyed!
It is.a Catholic book. It's an interpretation of the history of mankind mirrored against the theology of the Bible. Nothing to do with catholicism as a valid form of Christianity. But everyone has their own views and that's what God allows.
@@shadowlands8490 Tolkien himself said it is a religious and Catholic book, he didn't knew it when he first wrote it, but that he discovered it when he revised it, he didn't need to change or add anything because it is a Catholic story in its whole. You can read it in his letters.
@@elenamartel1822 That is awesome. Thank you for reference. So what we have is the corrupt form of Christianity interpretation of catholicism influencing an interpretation account of biblical end time events.
That would mean that based on the Holy Bible, there is some truth and some error in theological interpretation, only, not that the book is false. Based on this catholic concept then, there doesn't seem to be any conflict with Lord of the Rings and Biblical theology. Much of the end times is accurately described in his books. Rather what religious route one takes when carrying out their beliefs within Christianity. Firstly the concept that Jesus would become man born of a mother but somehow being Divine. That is true, but the part where Elves or Angels are divine would be false. But the Angels do spiritually produce corrupt offspring. Jesus said there are men who are of their father the devil.
I understand that from Catholics beliefs: where God creates little gods after His image and likeness Is false. Jesus was not created. But some can become false gods in the realm of men, not that God created them. Satan is after all , little god of the earth.
What we do run into is the fact that there are two enemy kingdoms. And that they can choose which side they serve. That is true,, the fact that the true concept of hiding the truth that is used by the enemy (the One ring) and destroying the wicked power of the forged ring. Appears to be gnosticism.
Christianity doesn't hold to gnosticism, but it does hide the knowledge that it exists. Which is the enemy witchcraft in form of something likened to a false One ring, or a false light. The One ring most likely symbolizing the Gnostic Gospel and the information they are sworn to keep secret.
@@elenamartel1822 I was giving JRR Tolkien the benefit of the doubt. In those days it was either catholicism of protestantism. Much of which is a consistent internal battle of liturgy. I am sure the catholic books are not meant to overwrite the Bible.
As it cannot, Catholics do believe God sealed the Bible with John and the book of Revelation. All of those books being Hebrew books. For that matter, the Bibles we read are Septuagint and Masoretics translations which have errors. So the best we can do is teach ourselves and others the best way we know how. We should always be accurately from the Bible. I don't see much harm from the Lord of the Rings.
The knights of the Nine for example are a real world reflection of the satanic nine elite group that rules the world. JRR Tolkien wasn't a complete fool regardless of he was a catholic. That is my overall point
It isn't a Catholic book that fails to deliver messages that we should understand and grasp the reasons why he wrote it.
God bless
Thanks. Always enjoy Joseph Pearce on Tolkien.
@Guy De Simon Because he makes so much sense calling him misguided is mind boggling.
Let's say you are correct.....the analogies still stand. You are free to call it all fiction, what is brilliant is the undeniable parallels he is outlining.
He is great, and his small book "Frodo's Journey" was the one that first gave me an insight into the Christian themes of the LOTR.
And then two more books just blew my mind. So I'd like to recommend two "must reads" about the Lord of the Rings: Craig Bernthal's "Tolkien's Sacramental Vision" and Fleming Rutledge's "The Battle for Middle Earth".
I like this guy...love lord of the rings story...great insight...very true.
Thank you for posting this lecture; I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I have to note, though, that Samwise Gamgee's role in the story is largely overlooked in this analysis. It appears to me that LOTR is as much Sam's story as it is Frodo's. In THE FELLOWSHIP, Gandalf explains that The Ring has become Frodo's responsibility, and that Frodo must bear the ring to the council in Rivendell. Sam, caught eavesdropping outside Frodo's home, expresses wonder and excitement for the adventure and opportunity to learn of things beyond his comfort zone of The Shire. As Gandalf selects him to be Frodo's companion for the journey, Sam cheers the news. Through the entire story, Sam is Frodo's constant companion and defender (even challenging Strider/Aragorn at The Prancing Pony), standing up to every threat. When Frodo is wounded, was it not Sam who provided aid and comfort as he could within his abilities, and oversaw the treatment from other healers? I can't remember Gandalf's exact words at the Council of Rivendell, something along the lines of "...it seems impossible to separate you from him, even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not...."Yes, Merry and Pippin were also companions almost from the outset, but their paths and Frodo's (and Sam's) parted at Boromir's death and Frodo decided to carry on alone. Sam had the sense and logic to realize what Frodo had done and that without his aid, Frodo would certainly fail, and the skills to track Frodo to the river, risking his life to stay with his "Master".When Frodo was too exhausted to carry on and Sam had the opportunity to seize The Ring, and imagined the great works he could do building the greatest gardens in the world, he recognized the ambition for what it was and rejects the temptation, choosing instead to carry Frodo as Frodo retains possession of The Ring. In this way is he not at least as saintly as Faramir?At the end of everything after Sméagol/Gollum had held The Ring (and note that earlier in the tale Frodo had put on The Ring and commanded that if Sméagol touched it, he would himself be cast into the fire) as he fell into the Cracks of Doom, Sam was there. As an aside, Faramir himself had spoken killing Gollum as he fished in the pool, unaware that he was in mortal peril from the archers, and that Frodo spoke out in the wretch's defense, explaining that he still had a part to play in the fate of The Ring. I believe this may have been Faramir's test of Frodo's motives and character. Faramir also spared Gollum, though there probably was no real intent to harm him.After the Hobbits returned to The Shire, Sam joins Merry and Pippin to restore order to a Shire where evil has run rampant. Sam became Mayor of the village, leading wisely and well. It was Sam who accompanied Frodo, Bilbo, and the Elves to the Grey Havens, and who recorded the history of The Shire, and of Aragorn and Arwen's lives after the war in The Red Book. Finally, at the end of Sam's days, he also crossed through The Grey Havens and sailed to "Lands...west of west where night is long and sleep is rest...." (and forgive me if I misquote Bilbo's "Last Song").
guardian angel?
@@mom6boyz I would say that he's more in line with the "Beloved Disciple" mentioned in the Gospel of John - the one who follows Christ to Golgotha and stands at the foot of the cross himself (thought to be literally St. John the apostle and evangelist, but figuratively each one of us). He can also be seen at times to be St. Simon of Cyrene, who helped Jesus carry his cross. But in truth, he's also Frodo's best friend - who would do anything he can to make sure that Frodo completes his mission, and shows the importance of true friendship.
Someone took the Christian song, “ The Servant Song” First line “ will you let me be your servant”. Someone laid it over a compilation of Samwise and Frodo’s journey. It will make you weep. It can be found on UA-cam. I think that is who Sam is. He is the servant. As such he is the role all Christians are called to be.
Idk man that's some great analysis of Sam but the lecture barely talks about Frodo himself and he's the main character
@@davidcatabui2018 The thesis of this presentation is the argument that Sam, servant Sam, loyal Sam, wise Sam, heroic Sam is the central character in LOTR. Frodo is the ring-bearer but Sam is the Frodo-bearer.
Incredibly interesting. I’ll definitely watch this again. Fascinating.
That was brilliant
@22:00 You make a very good point about March 25th.
Great job.
Indeed.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!! :)
Nailed it
I always felt LOTR was a spiritual tale but now seeing the explicit examples is profoundly moving and vindicating.
isn't King Arhur meant to deliver Wales? But anyway, Pearce is amazing, really enjoy all his work
He nails the meaning of the ring. I was never satisfied by interpretations that claim it represents power (as Shippey has claimed). I have long thought it represents everything that is not God. Sin covers it for me. Of course, sin includes power and everything else that goes against God's will.
it is freemasonry my friend, freemasons have ring and Solomon is important figure to them who had a ring to cast demons (probably when he fell away and worshiped other "gods" due to his wives who brought Baal to him). Vatican = freemasonry
Robert Jones Catholics are forbidden from Freemasonry. The Pope is Catholic. Your claim, that the Vatican is Masonic, is an extraordinary claim, and it demands extraordinary proof. Do you have any proof?
Robert Jones any Catholic who is a member of Freemasonry is no Catholic.
99% sure Tolkien himself stated it represents power.
The One Ring of Power is literally called “the One Ring of Power”.
Tolkien explicitly states that’s it no more complicated than that.
this lecture is so wholesome oh my gosh
The Master & Commander series is Jane Austen for men.
I always saw the elves as angelic or guardian Angel creatures 👼🏼🕊️☺️
i cant understand what he is saying, how come this video doesnt have the option for CC/subtitles?
Lizie Keep trying. His accent is London English. I'm sure you'll "tune in" with a few tries.
@@gerardk51 That's no Cockney accent, mate !
@@Big-guy1981 It's certainly English and as he was raised in London I can say it's a London accent. I lived in London for a few years. I never said it was Cockney. No Bow Bells.
Yea It was difficult to make out what he was saying partly because he spoke so rapidly.
God does not reveal the full gift he plans for men when they die to the Elves or anyone else. They were bewildered by it.
You can tell when a Catholic or someone raised Catholic discovers that Bilbo, Frodo weren’t there real names…we take delight…however Protestants take the work so literally to the point of the color of their skin…it’s bonkers…like they ,missed the entire point of Tolkien’s work.
His name is spelt with a 'c' instead of an 's'
+LordDreagon Thanks! fixed!
spelt??
@@ryanburdeaux Spelt is a past of spell.
@@LordDreagon that’s right, I was thinking about smelled and smelt
Great lecture but i don't think the Ring represents sin. That is, in my opinion, way to simplistic. Sam put it on and did nothing bad by it. The Ring is a part of Sauron and all he wants is to is serve his master; Melkor. Melkor on his hand is decieving Sauron on his part out of anger. All because Melkor was too enthousiastic while playing his music part for Eru, the one. Eru put Melkor fiercly in his place sowing the seed of envy.
Those who can't create, will destroy and fade to self interest; that is exactly what happened to Melkor>sauron>any other ringbarer except for sam.
Sam didn't live for anyone else but his master, Frodo (and his old Gaffer ofcourse ;)).
Sam only wore it briefly. Even he got excited about things he might be able to do with it. It would have eventually corrupted even Sam. But besides Tom Bombadil, he was the only person to willingly give up the ring.
That's how sin corrupts, it doesn't consume you all at once. It starts small, almost unnoticeable. But soon that habitual sin becomes a vice which corrupts others aspects of your life where you sin in others too, it gives birth and consumes you without you even noticing. By the end you are Gollum.
@@nenabunena if you think that is the case then please give me the definition of sin
A good analysis but I found the references to politicians he disliked grating. To compare a living president to Sauron was terrible.
Wow, Pearce was really thirsty.
He can form "L" as a beginning consonant, like "Lose".. "Lying"....he does this with the jaw position more than the tip of the tongue...I wonder if he his tried to work on this. Bo-wa-mih-oo Boramir. Sorry I listen to this stuff as well as the content of his talk.
Jay GBardo yea I noticed the same thing he sufferers from a slight speech implement. Funny thing coming from an English Men
Gamers No, it's a sort-of subclass of Cockney accent, coming, I believe, from the Jewish areas. Lots of Londoners do this, not a speech impediment. A lot of fun to mimic!
Pride is Satan ego
Remember King Arthur was a Welsh and Scottish hero not just English. I like to listen to Lords of the Rings videos. Very interesting perspective.
King Arthur is Britonic. Wales and Scotland did not exist in the 6th century.
I loved this speech!!! Mainly the part in which he mocks feminists. And for the poor nay sayers bellow, all I have to say is... cry well in fetal position, guys. The AUTHOR, not the speaker, said CLEARLY his bookS were and ARE CATHOLIC. So sorry if the TRUTH bothers some egos soooooooo much.
Catholics actually are feminists though.
What he says about _Pride And Prejudice_ is complete cobblers. This novel is about what it says on the cover; prejudice and pride. It's set in small communities and family relationships, and presented as comedy and biting social satire. Since when has any of this been 'girly?'
It is largely about interpersonal relations and the perils one faces are social evils. Not physical evils like an adventure or war story. How many young men 16-20 pick up P and P verses women? It is a good book that shows the dangers most of us in the west face. He did say all men should read it but that it tends to be the try they do not pick 1st. Would not books about the three Musketeers or the song about the Swedish royal guard not be more something that is mostly listened to or read by men?
You know what?
For the Catholics who know what's currently happening within the Church: *Francis* -- as the Vicar -- is doing the EXACT same thing as *Denethor...* which is betraying the King by imposing _his_ own vision of the Kingdom. When the King -- Christ -- returns, Francis will have some explaining to do.
What vision is he imposing against Christ?
tolkiens world has a lot of european pagan traits
Yes he uses a lot of pagan stuff for the mythology, but the philosophy of the world and the underlying creation and ideas are very Christian and Catholic.
He consciously clothed Catholic and Christian thought into a world that was not quite aware of it as he saw society heading.
You see old European mythology, you don't see them worshipping gods or paganesq Gods.
lack of sub-titles speaking voice poor.
I'm about 12 minutes in and I'm already highly skeptical of this talk because what I think the presenter as much as many other catholic fans totally misunderstood about what Tolkien had said about his work being "fundamentally christian" is that they take it so literally. Tolkien's mind if anything didn't work at all in a literal way, just try listening to him speak, he was religious because he came from that tradition but how did he understand his religion is another thing. He was extremely well educated and learned in literature and mythology, as evident in his work, I wouldn't bet his faith was strictly christian, just expressed that way because well that's what he was born into. There is a Hindu teacher whose lecture I found on YT that on the other hand parallels LotR with the Vedas. There are fundamental truths all religions have in common and I think THAT'S what he meant by what he said. In that sense it is a religious text. Though I think it's more accurate to say it is a mythological work for that really covers it's scope and depth. Read about the japanese sun goddess or the myth of odyssey, read about the monomyth and you'll see the breadth of his knowledge and understanding of mythology. Everybody talks about Norse myths because of the obvious similarities in imagery but I'm sure he drew on all of it. Reading LotR strictly through Catholic eyes is horribly narrow minded, and I don't think Tolkien had ever intended it to be read so. Think about it in terms of mythology and you'll understand much more.
Cheers!
He was VERY strictly Christian. And quite angry when the church started changing during the second Vatican council. We don’t need to guess, a lot of people knew him
To ink about it in terms of mythology and you’re missing all of the true meaning he put into hall of his works. Incredibly bad take here.
@@Dougy359 You obviously don't know anything about mythology if you think my take is so bad
@@silverdragon710 I suggest you start with Jordan Peterson and Jon Pageau...It is not a narrow taking away to see it as Catholic it is an additive mythological experience...you misunderstand that truth is shadowed in the other myths but contained in the Christian/Catholic heritage.
@@jagmichaelgilbert8523 im familiar with jordan peterson and no thank you
Ex National Front from England.
Yes, and he repudiates that ideology now. What's your point?
Can people not change their mind?
@@blablabubles I always feel that's why people reject Christianity as a whole -- people start to have issue with salvation, but instead insist on a karmic system, when our past define us. Yet it was precisely this kind of merciless with fellow humans that we can understand the infinite mercy of God. Not because of the presumption heresy, but because he will forgive if we ask.
Pro dolorosa ejus passione, miserere nobi et totius mundi.
The way things are going in Britain or more specifically London, National Front for England seems like a good party tbh
Middle class socialists are so good at theorising, so good for their vainglory and safely distant from real people and real problems. Leave your ivory tower and do voluntary work !!!
@@blablabublesOnce a Nazi, always a Nazi.
He has a bit of speech impediment...trouble with "r" , "l" , and "n"...seems unable to lift the tongue to the upper gum ridge to form the consonant , I often wonder with a bit of coaching if he couldn't correct this. Not a criticism, but observation as my understanding of the formation of phonetics in speech and singing. Does not diminish the content of his talk.
I don't hear it. The things you seem to describe are characteristic of Cockney English. Joseph Pearce is from East London.
It is well known that many Brits have malocclusions and therefore air escapes through the dental spaces or impedes the tongue movements. Also could be a narrow hard palate...not just “learning to speak” I am a Medical Speech Pathologist who sees lots of mouths 👄
Shortly, what an insult to the creative genius that is Tolkien.
He accepted how some of his work stemmed from a Christian upbringing, although disliked the constant Christianizing of his work because of parallels with biblical dates and allusions to European Christian attitudes. He made his apathy with C. S. Lewis known, whose works are the more blatant allegorical pieces of literature towards religion.
This man had far too many interests, education, experiences, passions, and expertise in world building and creative license that because of certain congruencies within biblical stories and his works (which can be made with other works as the bible simply uses literary devices which if made comparison to a dissimilar book does not mean the latter is copying the former) does not mean he made them in the light of Catholicism. In interviews and questions asked to him about the reach of his works in regard to religion, he stated that he was a Christian (of course, if you stated that you weren't during the mid 20th century would be considered dangerous). He also gave very sidelined answers towards how his works met with those of Christian works, and made sure that there was a distinction between his world and books to those of Christianity's.
Tolkien championed his ability to be able to write and build from an era considered "pre-christ" so that he was not bound to any rules of theme or theory, but merely drew from his favourite sources of pagan and pre-christian european mythology. Those areas of study, if you do look into them, have their own dichotomies of good and evil, heroes, divinities, and figures of hope. There is a secular cosmology to the world and belief is almost completely within the free people. You could call the universe of The Lord of The Rings pagan european and it would make more sense than christian. Not to say Christianity was never an influence all along, same as the platonic, pantheonic, Norse, and other pagan influences, however, it is uncomplacent as a Tolkien reader, a Christian, and a literary mind to call his works motives "Christian".
He was a philologist, veteran, poet, professor as well besides a catholic. Let us never forget that.
I’m sorry but this is a bad take. Tolkien very purposefully made his work catholic. He didn’t try to make it a big allegory, instead the very ideas of the book and the world they’re in are rooted in catholic philosophy. He saw himself as having written a catholic theological text which also happened to tell a nice story.
This shows a pretty big lack of understanding of Tolkien as an author, a man who filled his book with Catholic subtext; unconsciously at first but very consciously upon revision. He just made it very subtle.
“The Lord of the Rings is of course a fundamentally religious and Catholic work,” -JRR Tolkien
The Catholicness of Tolkien’s writing is very overt. I don’t know what you’ve been reading. 🤣
I’m currently reading through it for the 4th time. I’m a cradle Catholic who wasn’t taught proper Catholic philosophy and was generally relativistic. The first three times i read it I simply enjoyed the adventure and mythology. It was five years ago since I last picked it up. Since then I’ve been neck deep in reading and learning about Catholic philosophy and finding out what the faith I was brought up in is actually all about, and let me tell you, reading the LOTR this time around is like reading a completely different book. It can be argued that it’s allegories aren’t specifically Catholic, but the philosophy, the world view behind everything in Middle Earth is 100%, without a shadow of a doubt, Catholic.
A bizarre ugly swipe at Barack Obama, who is a churchgoing Christian, unlike his successor.
Unworthy of you, Mr. Pearce.
Otherwise an enjoyable presentation, though there’s not much original here.
The guy was evil and made out to be a saint by mainstream media. His foreign policy was despicable. His church going was obviously for camera.
Better a peacemaker that doesn't attend church than a warmongering segregationist that does.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Is that in there? I didn't think so. Angels is a bunch kabbalah bs. 🤣 I went to Catholic School in the days of nuns and we didn't learn any of this. He is making a new religion, for some reason.
It’s kind of disgusting: 1. You greatly misrepresent Tolkien’s work, which was not allegorical in the least. All of the Catholic elements of the legendarium are overt and not hidden under a veil of allegory. 2. There is absolutely no reason for you to bring modern politics into any discussion about Tolkien.
This talk came across as being given by someone who was attempting to co-opt Tolkien for their own cultural agenda.
How can they co-opt his work? Did Tolkien not say himself it's a fundamental Catholic work, not so evident first time around, but on the revision?
The lad was a staunch traditionalist Catholic, not just a Catholic, a traditionalist. It's not coincidence that so much lines up with Catholicism. Every major event in the LOTR don't fall on the major Catholic feast days by coincidence.
Catholicism in The Lord of the Rings? Hmmm ... I must have missed the chapters on child abuse.