Tolkien Dogmatics: Theology through Mythology in Middle-Earth
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Theology through mythology
J. R. R. Tolkien was many things: English Catholic, father and husband, survivor of two world wars, Oxford professor, and author. But he was also a theologian. Tolkien’s writings exhibit a coherent theology of God and his works, but Tolkien did not present his views with systematic arguments. Rather, he expressed theology through story.
In Tolkien Dogmatics, Austin M. Freeman inspects Tolkien’s entire corpus—The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and beyond—as a window into his theology. In his stories, lectures, and letters, Tolkien creatively and carefully engaged with his Christian faith. Tolkien Dogmatics is a comprehensive manual of Tolkien’s theological thought arranged in traditional systematic theology categories, with sections on God, revelation, creation, evil, Christ and salvation, the church, and last things. Through Tolkien’s imagination, we reencounter our faith.
Praise for Tolkien Dogmatics
This is a well-researched, one-of-a-kind work that will appeal especially to those who have gone out the front door to engage in the dangerous business of walking the Way of Christ, pursuing their own adventures as inhabitants of the twenty-first-century, demystified Middle-West.
–Kevin J. Vanhoozer, research professor of systematic theology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
- Prolegomena
- God
- Revelation
- Creation
- Humanity
- Angels
- The Fall
- Evil and Sin
- Satan and Demons
- Christ and Salvation
- The Church
- The Christian Life
- Last Things
- Title: Tolkien Dogmatics: Theology through Mythology in Middle-Earth
- Author: Austin M. Freeman
- Publisher: Lexham Press
- Publication Date: 2022
- Pages: 432
- Format: Logos Digital, Paperback
- Trim Size: 5.5x7.75
- ISBN: 9781683596677
Austin M. Freeman is a lecturer at Houston Baptist University and a classical school teacher.
Reviews
3 ratings
Diana
2/23/2024
Jamin Bradley
12/28/2022
There is a common comparison between C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien that many readers are familiar with: Lewis loved allegory and Tolkien despised it. Because I love allegory, I have typically found myself enjoying Lewis' works more than Tolkien's, but this book has now given me a brand new appreciation for Tolkien. While Tolkien may not have been into "allegory" per se, Freeman shows us just how steeped in deep Christian theology Tolkien's works are. So much of his mythology brings the themes and views of the Bible to life in startling, exciting, and inspired ways. Tolkien's writings are, in some ways, more aligned with the theological discoveries of current Biblical scholarship than the scholarship of his own time. This myth-maker had a way of interweaving his faith into everything. So if you, like me, were always made to think that Tolkien's works weren't very "spiritual," or that people are just reading into things when they see faith elements in Lord of the Rings—then read this book. Freeman brings Tolkien's works to light like never before, steeping us in footnotes upon footnotes of deep research. This was easily one of the best books I read this year.Jack Farris
12/3/2022
Much of what I read I knew to some extent from reading biographies of Tolkien & Lewis. However, the theology is nicely organized here and is a great resource when discussing Tolkien's theology, and even Lewis' to an extent. I highly recommend it.
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