Episode #30
135. Talkin' Tolkien & Theology (ft. Tripp Fuller)
You shall not pass… on listening to this episode! The legendary Tripp Fuller joins us this week to nerd out on the spiritual themes of The Lord of the Rings and why he keeps returning to Tolkien’s work year after year. But don’t worry, even if you’re not a fan of hobbits, dragons, rings, or fantasy/Faërie, this conversation is about a whole lot more than just Middle-earth. Through Tolkien’s world, we find ourselves discussing some surprisingly real questions: * How can Christians cultivate a mature hope in a world where salvation doesn’t always arrive at first light on the fifth day? * Does power inevitably pull us toward corruption, and what might Tolkien have to teach us about building healthier systems and communities? * How might Erū Ilúvatar’s uncontrolling adaptive creation symphony help us understand how God interacts with humanity? * What can a scene left out of the movies teach us about deconstruction, religious trauma, and rebuilding a sense of home after leaving religious communities? * And, yes, even, Why didn’t the Fellowship just ride the Eagles straight to Mordor? And what might that tell us about the value of the journey over the destination in our own lives? If you’ve ever wondered what Gandalf might say if he were a theologian, what Tolkien would think about the things American Christianity holds most precious, or what hobbits can teach us about enjoying a beautiful life while the world around us is falling apart, this conversation takes us there and back again! Website: TheBibleUncut.com (show notes available in the blog section) Donate: TheBibleUncut.com/support-us Discord: TheBibleUncutandUnfiltered Email: cconn@thebibleuncut.com Facebook: TheBibleUncutandUnfiltered Instagram: @TheBibleUncutandUnfiltered TikTok: @BibleUncutandUnfiltered YouTube: @TheBibleUncutandUnfiltered Editor: Janna Connor
