In a letter, Tolkien stated that The Lord of the Rings was a “fundamentally religious and Catholic” work, which seems strange given the lack of obvious religion in the story.  A close look, however, reveals numerous examples of the author’s theology in all his Middle-earth stories.

For videos discussing many of these ideas in further detail, check the links below:

Fate and free will generally: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIzDndXGRsY

Fate and free will in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvVkE3bBmzM

Fate and free will in the story of Turin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lROuU1RPDpU

Fate and free will in Tolkien vs. The Adjustment Bureau: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pw4CO58N8g

Providence in Tolkien vs. “Passengers”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UCmnGxJSfI

Decline, fall, and restoration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLme8xfiY6o

Evil and banal and empty (compared to “Megamind”): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-jhi1pMSA0

Morality vs. law: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ggh4oAdiXM

The Athrabeth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwi7_nABWDI

Other Links:

Rumble at https://rumble.com/c/c-355195

Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore

Patreon: www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek