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Middle-Earth? Cannoli Send a noteboard - 08/03/2017 09:53:45 PM

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Everyone has motivations, and taking out religion deprives the author of the means of explaining motivations of characters through that prism. It might not be needed in a world where the divine is immanent in places and through avatars, and it seems like Jordan was perhaps initially thinking in that way, not only with the Forsaken, but also with the odd Green Man in the first book. However, he never really developed that idea and quickly moved away from it. I think it was a mistake. I can't think of other fantasy series that are bereft of religion the way Wheel of Time is, though I'll admit I don't read a ton of them.

I know that there is a whole theology/mythology to that world, but you wouldn't know from reading LotR & the Hobbit. When you have read the Silmarillion, then you start recognizing the names of the Valar in various Elvish songs or battle cries, but it doesn't really seem to motivate anything in the better-known works. You understand a bit better why the Elves are doing the stuff they are doing, why they aren't contributing more and why they are leaving Middle-Earth, but that isn't really a religious thing. Tolkien's actual deity doesn't seem all that different from Jordan's creator.

Cannoli
“Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions.” GK Chesteron
Inde muagdhe Aes Sedai misain ye!
Deus Vult!
*MySmiley*
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How did you feel after completing AMoL? - Anonymous2000 - 24/02/2017 04:03:10 AM 1798 Views
Unsatisfied I suppose or perhaps regretful darius_sedai - 24/02/2017 02:54:12 PM 1232 Views
I'll post this again Tom - 25/02/2017 01:29:16 AM 931 Views
Very good post, can't argue with it. Anonymous2000 - 25/02/2017 02:40:18 AM 1160 Views
I can argue with some of it Joel - 25/02/2017 09:32:17 PM 1061 Views
You can say whatever you want, but you're wrong Tom - 25/02/2017 10:40:58 PM 1013 Views
We are not discussing concrete facts, so objective error is impossible Joel - 26/02/2017 01:21:46 AM 1138 Views
In any discussion, error is possible. In your discussions, it's a near certainty. Tom - 28/02/2017 08:24:59 PM 972 Views
On a different topic, how important do you think that stuff is? Cannoli - 03/03/2017 07:20:15 AM 1094 Views
It's all about suspending disbelief, isn't it? Tom - 04/03/2017 01:13:12 AM 1064 Views
That makes a lot of sense. Cannoli - 08/03/2017 10:18:56 PM 1058 Views
On further reflection, I think the religion element being left out is important. Tom - 04/03/2017 04:07:53 AM 981 Views
Middle-Earth? Cannoli - 08/03/2017 09:53:45 PM 1182 Views
A Elbereth Gilthoniel... Tom - 10/03/2017 04:48:50 PM 1010 Views
Morning Star is actually a title of Mary, and the name of a summer camp run by nuns. Cannoli - 25/03/2017 09:59:31 PM 950 Views
Tolkien would also be familiar with Isaiah 14:12 Tom - 27/03/2017 05:09:49 PM 902 Views
Personally, "religion" in WoT makes perfect sense... For the AoL. Not so much the Third Age Dunstan - 09/03/2017 01:55:29 AM 1062 Views
But did they really undeniably prove this existence? darius_sedai - 09/03/2017 04:19:43 PM 1208 Views
Re: But did they really undeniably prove this existence? Dunstan - 10/03/2017 07:47:11 AM 1161 Views
I think we are saying similar things darius_sedai - 12/03/2017 08:31:13 PM 1105 Views
Some points Cannoli - 25/02/2017 11:54:50 PM 1065 Views
Well, some THINGS anyway. Joel - 26/02/2017 01:56:29 AM 1020 Views
Your recognition of irony is profound Cannoli - 26/02/2017 08:39:47 AM 982 Views
Not great, but better; what all went to Hell after ACoS, Sanderson at least returned to Purgatory Joel - 25/02/2017 03:39:58 PM 975 Views
MAYBE in the pacing, but that is it. Sanderson got absolutely nothing else right beyond the events *NM* Cannoli - 25/02/2017 11:59:06 PM 745 Views
mosty disappointment damookster - 27/02/2017 10:15:29 PM 998 Views
Exhausted zodiac2000 - 27/02/2017 10:52:51 PM 986 Views
Total agree about Moiraine's return..... Anonymous2000 - 28/02/2017 03:57:57 AM 1012 Views
With Demandred... That was likely at least somewhat the point. Dunstan - 28/02/2017 06:09:13 AM 935 Views
Not best pleased. nossy - 27/02/2017 11:59:06 PM 900 Views
It felt like the end of Grease when the car flew off Delireus - 01/03/2017 02:22:19 AM 982 Views
Re: It felt like the end of Grease when the car flew off Dunstan - 01/03/2017 08:39:23 AM 1114 Views
Re: It felt like the end of Grease when the car flew off Delireus - 01/03/2017 11:23:18 PM 1085 Views
Re: It felt like the end of Grease when the car flew off Dunstan - 02/03/2017 06:07:12 AM 964 Views
I still haven't read it. Stephen - 01/03/2017 08:03:53 PM 949 Views
Interesting, any reason why you haven't read it yet? *NM* Anonymous2000 - 01/03/2017 10:26:21 PM 542 Views
It was the end of their world as I knew it, and I felt fine. *NM* Cannoli - 02/03/2017 11:13:25 PM 590 Views
You were just happy that you-know-who died! *NM* Anonymous2000 - 03/03/2017 02:47:38 AM 584 Views
Disappointed, shocked, relieved. The Shrike - 03/03/2017 04:44:56 PM 896 Views
Curious - what were you hoping to happen to Rand at the end? *NM* Anonymous2000 - 03/03/2017 09:00:12 PM 602 Views
Me too! Delireus - 04/03/2017 10:19:21 AM 864 Views
Guess I'm in the minority, because I felt quite satisfied, all things considered. PseudoDragon - 03/03/2017 06:13:27 PM 815 Views
I cried and I was glad it was over! kazetaran - 04/03/2017 09:13:03 PM 1014 Views
The Fouth Age is quite a fun little sandbox. Full of possibilities. *NM* *NM* Dunstan - 05/03/2017 07:11:30 AM 548 Views
there's just SO MUCH that could happen Delireus - 05/03/2017 09:33:26 AM 1005 Views
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