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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 1821 Views
Unsatisfied I suppose or perhaps regretful darius_sedai - 24/02/2017 02:54:12 PM 1251 Views
I'll post this again Tom - 25/02/2017 01:29:16 AM 952 Views
Very good post, can't argue with it. Anonymous2000 - 25/02/2017 02:40:18 AM 1181 Views
I can argue with some of it Joel - 25/02/2017 09:32:17 PM 1085 Views
You can say whatever you want, but you're wrong Tom - 25/02/2017 10:40:58 PM 1031 Views
We are not discussing concrete facts, so objective error is impossible Joel - 26/02/2017 01:21:46 AM 1164 Views
In any discussion, error is possible. In your discussions, it's a near certainty. Tom - 28/02/2017 08:24:59 PM 991 Views
On a different topic, how important do you think that stuff is? Cannoli - 03/03/2017 07:20:15 AM 1122 Views
It's all about suspending disbelief, isn't it? Tom - 04/03/2017 01:13:12 AM 1100 Views
That makes a lot of sense. Cannoli - 08/03/2017 10:18:56 PM 1078 Views
On further reflection, I think the religion element being left out is important. Tom - 04/03/2017 04:07:53 AM 1012 Views
Middle-Earth? Cannoli - 08/03/2017 09:53:45 PM 1204 Views
A Elbereth Gilthoniel... Tom - 10/03/2017 04:48:50 PM 1033 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 924 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 1083 Views
But did they really undeniably prove this existence? darius_sedai - 09/03/2017 04:19:43 PM 1234 Views
Re: But did they really undeniably prove this existence? Dunstan - 10/03/2017 07:47:11 AM 1183 Views
I think we are saying similar things darius_sedai - 12/03/2017 08:31:13 PM 1132 Views
Some points Cannoli - 25/02/2017 11:54:50 PM 1086 Views
Well, some THINGS anyway. Joel - 26/02/2017 01:56:29 AM 1040 Views
Your recognition of irony is profound Cannoli - 26/02/2017 08:39:47 AM 1006 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 1008 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 1023 Views
Exhausted zodiac2000 - 27/02/2017 10:52:51 PM 1018 Views
Total agree about Moiraine's return..... Anonymous2000 - 28/02/2017 03:57:57 AM 1031 Views
With Demandred... That was likely at least somewhat the point. Dunstan - 28/02/2017 06:09:13 AM 955 Views
Not best pleased. nossy - 27/02/2017 11:59:06 PM 932 Views
It felt like the end of Grease when the car flew off Delireus - 01/03/2017 02:22:19 AM 1003 Views
Re: It felt like the end of Grease when the car flew off Dunstan - 01/03/2017 08:39:23 AM 1137 Views
Re: It felt like the end of Grease when the car flew off Delireus - 01/03/2017 11:23:18 PM 1105 Views
Re: It felt like the end of Grease when the car flew off Dunstan - 02/03/2017 06:07:12 AM 982 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 599 Views
Disappointed, shocked, relieved. The Shrike - 03/03/2017 04:44:56 PM 913 Views
Curious - what were you hoping to happen to Rand at the end? *NM* Anonymous2000 - 03/03/2017 09:00:12 PM 614 Views
Me too! Delireus - 04/03/2017 10:19:21 AM 885 Views
Guess I'm in the minority, because I felt quite satisfied, all things considered. PseudoDragon - 03/03/2017 06:13:27 PM 837 Views
I cried and I was glad it was over! kazetaran - 04/03/2017 09:13:03 PM 1046 Views
The Fouth Age is quite a fun little sandbox. Full of possibilities. *NM* *NM* Dunstan - 05/03/2017 07:11:30 AM 561 Views
there's just SO MUCH that could happen Delireus - 05/03/2017 09:33:26 AM 1032 Views
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