The Spiritual Milieu Based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s Literary Mythology

Abstract

This chapter shows that J.R.R. Tolkien's work has been used by religious groups for whom Tolkien's writings are absolutely central and who believe that important parts of his mythology refer to real supernatural beings, events and other worlds in a straightforward and non-metaphorical way. It then sketches the history of Tolkien spirituality from 1970s till today with an emphasis on the twenty-first century. Author uses the term ?milieu' to denote the loose social organisation of Tolkien spirituality. He describe what individuals engaged in Tolkien spirituality believe and practice, discuss the ontological status they attribute to Tolkien's narrative world, and analyse the ways in which they combine Tolkien material with other religious elements. The author compares the two waves of Tolkien spirituality before and after the film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings and the rise of the Internet. He relates his findings to Adam Possamai's concept of hyper-real religion. Keywords:Adam Possamai; hyper-real religion; J.R.R. Tolkien; mythology; ontological; religious; spiritual milieu; spirituality; The Lord of the Rings