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By Mallory Mattingly
With THE LORD OF THE RINGS back in theaters for the 25th anniversary, Kirk Cameron explained how the J.R.R. Tolkien books and movies inspired by them have a “deep Christian worldview.”
“This is a story that matters because beneath the adventure, beneath the dragons and the dark lords, there is deeper magic at work,” Cameron said in an episode of “The Kirk Cameron Show” podcast. “I love how C.S. Lewis put [it]: that The Lord of the Rings is a story about good and evil. It’s about sacrifice and mercy. It’s about humility and hope. And by the end of today’s episode, I want to show you why stories like this, they don’t just entertain us, they form us. They train our hearts and minds.”
Related: 5 Biblical Lessons From THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING
Part of Movieguide®’s review for THE LORD FO THE RINGS: FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING reads:
After a short prologue, part one of THE LORD OF THE RINGS opens in a village in the Shire in Middle Earth. A hobbit named Frodo, played by Elijah Wood, is a friendly, likeable chap who is thrust into an adventure not of his choosing. Gandalf, played magnificently by Ian McKellen, is a powerful wizard who helps him. Good-hearted Frodo must destroy an evil ring that has the power to unleash a hellish nightmare on relatively peaceful Middle Earth. Elves, hobbits, dwarfs, and humans must pull together in the face of monstrous odds to help Frodo complete his task.
Part One of THE LORD OF THE RINGS is a wonderful “epic” fantasy about good and evil with top-notch actors, storyline and special effects. The movie is clean, but there is plenty of sword-fighting violence that is, at times, a bit too strong for children. The movie also includes a brief occult element not in the book. Happily, however, the filmmakers have left in plenty of Christian author J. R. R. Tolkien’s biblical, allegorical references. Take your older children if they are mature enough to handle mystical creatures, scary monsters and sword fighting.
Cameron touched on the same biblical qualities in his podcast.
“In a world where many are confused about reality, Middle-earth is not. There is good, there is evil, and the two are not the same thing. Middle-earth is a fallen world,” the actor explained. “And the greatest danger is not just that there’s evil out there. It’s the temptation to think that you can use evil for good and not be sucked into it yourself. That is the Ring. That’s the power of the Ring that promises control, safety, victory — but it’s always at the cost of your soul.”
“This is so instructive for us today. What we do in mercy today — even if it seems small and insignificant, unnoticed by others — can shape the future for someone else in ways that we can’t see. That is a deeply Christian truth,” Cameron continued. “Tolkien believed deeply in the invisible hand of God — that God is always at work even when He seems silent. Think about this: in The Lord of the Rings, nothing feels random. Everything matters. Every small choice. Every ordinary person.”
If you’re looking for something to see in theaters over the next few weeks, check out THE LORD OF THE RINGS. As you watch, keep an eye out for the Christian undertones that make the movies so powerful.
Read Next: Former LORD OF THE RINGS Star Elijah Wood Hopes New Movies Stay True Tolkien’s Books
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