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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
"Sometimes unhinged, sometimes unfair, always entertaining"
- The Crownless

“Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions.” GK Chesteron
Deus Vult!
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How did you feel after completing AMoL? - Anonymous2000 - 24/02/2017 04:03:10 AM 1961 Views
Unsatisfied I suppose or perhaps regretful darius_sedai - 24/02/2017 02:54:12 PM 1524 Views
I'll post this again Tom - 25/02/2017 01:29:16 AM 1084 Views
Very good post, can't argue with it. Anonymous2000 - 25/02/2017 02:40:18 AM 1305 Views
I can argue with some of it Joel - 25/02/2017 09:32:17 PM 1231 Views
You can say whatever you want, but you're wrong Tom - 25/02/2017 10:40:58 PM 1172 Views
We are not discussing concrete facts, so objective error is impossible Joel - 26/02/2017 01:21:46 AM 1297 Views
In any discussion, error is possible. In your discussions, it's a near certainty. Tom - 28/02/2017 08:24:59 PM 1132 Views
On a different topic, how important do you think that stuff is? Cannoli - 03/03/2017 07:20:15 AM 1255 Views
It's all about suspending disbelief, isn't it? Tom - 04/03/2017 01:13:12 AM 1219 Views
That makes a lot of sense. Cannoli - 08/03/2017 10:18:56 PM 1210 Views
On further reflection, I think the religion element being left out is important. Tom - 04/03/2017 04:07:53 AM 1148 Views
Middle-Earth? Cannoli - 08/03/2017 09:53:45 PM 1345 Views
A Elbereth Gilthoniel... Tom - 10/03/2017 04:48:50 PM 1169 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 1107 Views
Tolkien would also be familiar with Isaiah 14:12 Tom - 27/03/2017 05:09:49 PM 1052 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 1214 Views
But did they really undeniably prove this existence? darius_sedai - 09/03/2017 04:19:43 PM 1492 Views
Re: But did they really undeniably prove this existence? Dunstan - 10/03/2017 07:47:11 AM 1312 Views
I think we are saying similar things darius_sedai - 12/03/2017 08:31:13 PM 1411 Views
Some points Cannoli - 25/02/2017 11:54:50 PM 1211 Views
Well, some THINGS anyway. Joel - 26/02/2017 01:56:29 AM 1178 Views
Your recognition of irony is profound Cannoli - 26/02/2017 08:39:47 AM 1150 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 1150 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 867 Views
mosty disappointment damookster - 27/02/2017 10:15:29 PM 1161 Views
Exhausted zodiac2000 - 27/02/2017 10:52:51 PM 1151 Views
Total agree about Moiraine's return..... Anonymous2000 - 28/02/2017 03:57:57 AM 1144 Views
With Demandred... That was likely at least somewhat the point. Dunstan - 28/02/2017 06:09:13 AM 1080 Views
Not best pleased. nossy - 27/02/2017 11:59:06 PM 1064 Views
It felt like the end of Grease when the car flew off Delireus - 01/03/2017 02:22:19 AM 1142 Views
Re: It felt like the end of Grease when the car flew off Dunstan - 01/03/2017 08:39:23 AM 1272 Views
Re: It felt like the end of Grease when the car flew off Delireus - 01/03/2017 11:23:18 PM 1239 Views
Re: It felt like the end of Grease when the car flew off Dunstan - 02/03/2017 06:07:12 AM 1125 Views
I still haven't read it. Stephen - 01/03/2017 08:03:53 PM 1102 Views
Interesting, any reason why you haven't read it yet? *NM* Anonymous2000 - 01/03/2017 10:26:21 PM 651 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 714 Views
You were just happy that you-know-who died! *NM* Anonymous2000 - 03/03/2017 02:47:38 AM 706 Views
Disappointed, shocked, relieved. The Shrike - 03/03/2017 04:44:56 PM 1050 Views
Curious - what were you hoping to happen to Rand at the end? *NM* Anonymous2000 - 03/03/2017 09:00:12 PM 716 Views
Me too! Delireus - 04/03/2017 10:19:21 AM 1014 Views
Guess I'm in the minority, because I felt quite satisfied, all things considered. PseudoDragon - 03/03/2017 06:13:27 PM 961 Views
I cried and I was glad it was over! kazetaran - 04/03/2017 09:13:03 PM 1229 Views
The Fouth Age is quite a fun little sandbox. Full of possibilities. *NM* *NM* Dunstan - 05/03/2017 07:11:30 AM 660 Views
there's just SO MUCH that could happen Delireus - 05/03/2017 09:33:26 AM 1181 Views
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