God and Media- LOTR Christian Symbols

Main Theme

Showcase that evil is a real thing can be defeated through sacrifice and different people working together. Least likely can play key role in salvation ( as in the poor and small)

Ring

Represents sin. Powerful and evil. Small and pretty attractive. Some uses the excuse that can be use for good but it twists them to evil. The more someone uses it the more it turns away from good

Boromir

Tries to take the ring believing it will help the people

Saruman

Lust for power

Bilbo

Has trouble letting go of the ring. His time with it lead him to a powerful desire

Gollum

Desire for the ring leads him to murder and twists him the most

Frodo

At the end of his quest, desire turns him

Christ Presence (Gandalf)

He travels from place to place looking to help people. Dies for his friends. Dies fighting the Balrog which looks like Satan. He come back going from Grey to White showcasing a glorified and pure body. Gandalf=Spirit who came to middle earth to save people from evil taking on the form of a man so they can trust him.

John 15:13

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” Connects to Gandalf because he died for his friends to save them. Just like Jesus

Christ Presence (Aragorn)

Is Jesus in that he the king promised to return that people wait and hope for. Return and Ascension to kinghood. he ushers in an age of unparalleled peace. Jesus-Like. only human to refuses temptation. Also enters a realm between life and death and gets an army of dead people. Connect to Jesus dying on the cross and entering into the first layer of hell and bring up all the people waiting for the kingdom of heave to be open.

Isaiah 53:2

"he had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him". Aragon is referred to as someone no one would notice, unkempt, and even unattractive. Like Jesus in the way that he came not as a king with gold but as a humble man.

Christ Presence (Frodo)

plays both role of Christ and man. as man gives in to temptation and needs to be given grace in order to heal. as Christ carries the sin of the world ( ring) up to Mount Doom ( Calvary) and doing so suffers for us. redeemed at the end

John 14:2

"In my Father's house there are many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you" At the end of the book, Frodo says that he will prepare a place for him. It connects to Jesus because he goes to prepare a room for us in heaven.

Christ Presence (Sam)

utter love and faithfulness

Romans 8:38-39

"Neither death nor life, neither angels demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any power, neither height nor death, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our lord". Connects to Sam because no matter what he doesn't give up on Frodo even when Frodo tells him to leave.

Footprints in sand

This poem connects to Sam because he carries Frodo up the mountains of Mordor when Frodo cannot walk anymore. The poem talks about one set of footsteps representing God carrying us up in our darkest moments.

evil- fallen good, the devil as a fallen angel

Elrond high elf " nothing is evil in the beginning even Sauron was not so"

Fall (original sin) comes curse and barrenness

Isengard and Mordor was places of ash and barrenness like hell.

lembas bread=Eucharist

it is supposed to fill you up physically and spiritually. they first eat while drinking ritually single cup ( last supper). Lembas means Bread of life

Reconciliation and Last rites

Boromir seeks forgiveness for failing as his dies. Aragorn grants him final blessing and peace.

John 8:12

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Frodo in order to ward off Shelob (spider) and guide his way. Contained the light of Earendil.

John 1:5

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." In Mordor, when face with despair, Sam points out a star and says that evil can never reach there.

Mark 9:43

"If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out." Frodo loses his finger. Gollum bites Frodo's finger to get the ring. This saves Frodo.

Mary

Galadriel. the lady who bestows help on those in need in robe but barefoot yet shown as majestic and royal. ( like Mary). Described as " unstained" as Mary is described without sin

Evil is Self-defeating

Good overcomes evil, not by battling with it, but through love and allowing evil to destroy itself- Catholic theology teachings

Mercy

Frodo failed in dropping the ring itself, but his mercy and goodness allowed Gollum to live, which is what leads to the destruction of the ring.

March 25

The day the ring was destroyed but also the day that Jesus died (crucifixion as well as the feast of Annunciation)