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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 1818 Views
Unsatisfied I suppose or perhaps regretful darius_sedai - 24/02/2017 02:54:12 PM 1247 Views
I'll post this again Tom - 25/02/2017 01:29:16 AM 948 Views
Very good post, can't argue with it. Anonymous2000 - 25/02/2017 02:40:18 AM 1179 Views
I can argue with some of it Joel - 25/02/2017 09:32:17 PM 1083 Views
You can say whatever you want, but you're wrong Tom - 25/02/2017 10:40:58 PM 1029 Views
We are not discussing concrete facts, so objective error is impossible Joel - 26/02/2017 01:21:46 AM 1161 Views
In any discussion, error is possible. In your discussions, it's a near certainty. Tom - 28/02/2017 08:24:59 PM 988 Views
On a different topic, how important do you think that stuff is? Cannoli - 03/03/2017 07:20:15 AM 1118 Views
It's all about suspending disbelief, isn't it? Tom - 04/03/2017 01:13:12 AM 1097 Views
That makes a lot of sense. Cannoli - 08/03/2017 10:18:56 PM 1075 Views
On further reflection, I think the religion element being left out is important. Tom - 04/03/2017 04:07:53 AM 1009 Views
Middle-Earth? Cannoli - 08/03/2017 09:53:45 PM 1200 Views
A Elbereth Gilthoniel... Tom - 10/03/2017 04:48:50 PM 1031 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 968 Views
Tolkien would also be familiar with Isaiah 14:12 Tom - 27/03/2017 05:09:49 PM 918 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 1080 Views
But did they really undeniably prove this existence? darius_sedai - 09/03/2017 04:19:43 PM 1228 Views
Re: But did they really undeniably prove this existence? Dunstan - 10/03/2017 07:47:11 AM 1179 Views
I think we are saying similar things darius_sedai - 12/03/2017 08:31:13 PM 1125 Views
Some points Cannoli - 25/02/2017 11:54:50 PM 1083 Views
Well, some THINGS anyway. Joel - 26/02/2017 01:56:29 AM 1036 Views
Your recognition of irony is profound Cannoli - 26/02/2017 08:39:47 AM 1005 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 1005 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 758 Views
mosty disappointment damookster - 27/02/2017 10:15:29 PM 1019 Views
Exhausted zodiac2000 - 27/02/2017 10:52:51 PM 1015 Views
Total agree about Moiraine's return..... Anonymous2000 - 28/02/2017 03:57:57 AM 1029 Views
With Demandred... That was likely at least somewhat the point. Dunstan - 28/02/2017 06:09:13 AM 952 Views
Not best pleased. nossy - 27/02/2017 11:59:06 PM 931 Views
It felt like the end of Grease when the car flew off Delireus - 01/03/2017 02:22:19 AM 999 Views
Re: It felt like the end of Grease when the car flew off Dunstan - 01/03/2017 08:39:23 AM 1134 Views
Re: It felt like the end of Grease when the car flew off Delireus - 01/03/2017 11:23:18 PM 1102 Views
Re: It felt like the end of Grease when the car flew off Dunstan - 02/03/2017 06:07:12 AM 977 Views
I still haven't read it. Stephen - 01/03/2017 08:03:53 PM 965 Views
Interesting, any reason why you haven't read it yet? *NM* Anonymous2000 - 01/03/2017 10:26:21 PM 553 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 599 Views
You were just happy that you-know-who died! *NM* Anonymous2000 - 03/03/2017 02:47:38 AM 598 Views
Disappointed, shocked, relieved. The Shrike - 03/03/2017 04:44:56 PM 911 Views
Curious - what were you hoping to happen to Rand at the end? *NM* Anonymous2000 - 03/03/2017 09:00:12 PM 613 Views
Me too! Delireus - 04/03/2017 10:19:21 AM 883 Views
Guess I'm in the minority, because I felt quite satisfied, all things considered. PseudoDragon - 03/03/2017 06:13:27 PM 833 Views
I cried and I was glad it was over! kazetaran - 04/03/2017 09:13:03 PM 1042 Views
The Fouth Age is quite a fun little sandbox. Full of possibilities. *NM* *NM* Dunstan - 05/03/2017 07:11:30 AM 559 Views
there's just SO MUCH that could happen Delireus - 05/03/2017 09:33:26 AM 1028 Views
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