The Silmarillion > The Bible

Peter_20 · 04-13-2007, 02:57 PM

I hope this doesn't count as sacrilege or anything, so let me start off with stressing that I perfectly respect religious people; of course I do.

I'm also perfectly aware of the fact the The Bible is much, much more important than The Silmarillion will ever be.
Still, I can't really say The Bible really fit my tastes - there's just something about the atmosphere that I'm not that fond of.
I know it's an extremely important piece of work, and I know that millions of people feel a huge respect for it (as do I), but... no - the atmosphere just doesn't appeal to me.

This is where The Silmarillion comes in.
That book reminds in many aspects about The Bible (The Creation, the gods etc.); but The Silmarillion possesses a kind of atmosphere that I like much better.
The Silmarillion's got more... attitude.
I've never seen characters like Fëanor, Fingolfin, Aredhel and Eöl in The Bible before; those characters are really cool, in a way that I like a lot.
I don't know how to clearly explain this, so this whole post might seem rather vague; but I hope I've at least partly expressed my opinions on the subject.

brownjenkins · 04-13-2007, 04:02 PM

Ainulindalë is a beautiful piece, and is one of Tolkien's best-written works. Genesis, by comparision, lacks in detail a bit and doesn't really paint the picture as full as it could have been.

But hey, it was god's first story. He got better.

Landroval · 04-13-2007, 04:39 PM

Silmarillion sure doesn't lack drama. We would actually need the letters, LotR and various HoME to understand that Eru's support and involvement is far more deep and present than it appears there. The Bible is far more optimistic. Overall, I would choose message over aesthetics

.

Peter_20 · 04-15-2007, 02:38 PM

I grieve that the parts taking place in Aman are so extremely unknown.
I mean, the atmosphere over there sure seems great, what with the tower of Ingwë, the lights of the two Trees, the Tengwar of Fëanor, the enmity between Fëanor and his half-brothers, Lórien... everything!

If it were possible, and if my family and all my friends could go with me, I'd like to live there.

ecthelion · 04-16-2007, 05:21 AM

Just thought it worth noting, BTW, that the Bible actually happened... When you talk about like and dislike, even if you are a complete non-believer in God and you regard all talk of him as fantasy/fiction, you have to treat the Bible as a history book.

Peter_20 · 04-17-2007, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecthelion

Just thought it worth noting, BTW, that the Bible actually happened... When you talk about like and dislike, even if you are a complete non-believer in God and you regard all talk of him as fantasy/fiction, you have to treat the Bible as a history book.

This thread didn't concern belief or disbelief, though; it concerned my thinking The Silmarillion has a cooler atmosphere.

The most Bible-like thing in The Silmarillion is probably Aulë making the Dwarves and then having this chat with Eru Ilúvatar.
That scene somehow reminded me of The Bible.

Kevin McIntyre · 04-17-2007, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecthelion

Just thought it worth noting, BTW, that the Bible actually happened... When you talk about like and dislike, even if you are a complete non-believer in God and you regard all talk of him as fantasy/fiction, you have to treat the Bible as a history book.

The bible actually happened? Intertesting. Granted the Bible is a historically influental collection of stories; however it is not history. The old testament does in fact orbit the historical world of pre-hellenic Palestine, though its stories were never meant to be historical documents. And do not get me started on the veracity of the new testament - a weak coglmoration of ancient myths wrapped around a first century rabbi.

***Earniel*** · 04-16-2007, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brownjenkins

Ainulindalë is a beautiful piece, and is one of Tolkien's best-written works. Genesis, by comparision, lacks in detail a bit and doesn't really paint the picture as full as it could have been.

But hey, it was god's first story. He got better.

Heheh, nice one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecthelion

Just thought it worth noting, BTW, that the Bible actually happened... When you talk about like and dislike, even if you are a complete non-believer in God and you regard all talk of him as fantasy/fiction, you have to treat the Bible as a history book.

That in itself is a whole different debate, ecthelion.

04-13-2007, 02:57 PM	#1
Peter_20 Elven Warrior Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 104	The Silmarillion > The Bible I hope this doesn't count as sacrilege or anything, so let me start off with stressing that I perfectly respect religious people; of course I do. I'm also perfectly aware of the fact the The Bible is much, much more important than The Silmarillion will ever be. Still, I can't really say The Bible really fit my tastes - there's just something about the atmosphere that I'm not that fond of. I know it's an extremely important piece of work, and I know that millions of people feel a huge respect for it (as do I), but... no - the atmosphere just doesn't appeal to me. This is where The Silmarillion comes in. That book reminds in many aspects about The Bible (The Creation, the gods etc.); but The Silmarillion possesses a kind of atmosphere that I like much better. The Silmarillion's got more... attitude. I've never seen characters like Fëanor, Fingolfin, Aredhel and Eöl in The Bible before; those characters are really cool, in a way that I like a lot. I don't know how to clearly explain this, so this whole post might seem rather vague; but I hope I've at least partly expressed my opinions on the subject. Last edited by Peter_20 : 04-13-2007 at 05:18 PM.

04-13-2007, 04:02 PM	#2
brownjenkins Advocatus Diaboli Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Reality Posts: 3,767	Ainulindalë is a beautiful piece, and is one of Tolkien's best-written works. Genesis, by comparision, lacks in detail a bit and doesn't really paint the picture as full as it could have been. But hey, it was god's first story. He got better. __________________ Your reality, sir, is lies and balderdash and I'm delighted to say that I have no grasp of it whatsoever.

04-16-2007, 05:21 AM	#5
ecthelion Enting Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Gondolin. in travian.it server5 Posts: 91	Just thought it worth noting, BTW, that the Bible actually happened... When you talk about like and dislike, even if you are a complete non-believer in God and you regard all talk of him as fantasy/fiction, you have to treat the Bible as a history book. __________________ The green earth, say you? That is a mighty matter of legend, though you tread it under the light of day! What does "LOL" mean?

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04-13-2007, 04:39 PM	#3
Landroval Elven Warrior Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 421	Silmarillion sure doesn't lack drama. We would actually need the letters, LotR and various HoME to understand that Eru's support and involvement is far more deep and present than it appears there. The Bible is far more optimistic. Overall, I would choose message over aesthetics .

04-15-2007, 02:38 PM	#4
Peter_20 Elven Warrior Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 104	I grieve that the parts taking place in Aman are so extremely unknown. I mean, the atmosphere over there sure seems great, what with the tower of Ingwë, the lights of the two Trees, the Tengwar of Fëanor, the enmity between Fëanor and his half-brothers, Lórien... everything! If it were possible, and if my family and all my friends could go with me, I'd like to live there.