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Tolkien släppte avsiktligt hänvisningar till "religion" i hans verk; se bokstav 142:
I have not put in, or have cut out, practically all references to anything like 'religion', to cults or practices, in the imaginary world.
Brev 153, som han skrev till en läsare som man måste känna, tog många saker helt och hållet för på allvar, fördjupar vidare, och det är värt att citera helheten av en fotnot till den, även om jag kommer att bryta för att undvika en "textmugg".
Först en allmän översikt:
There are thus no temples or 'churches' or fanes in this 'world' among 'good' peoples. They had little or no 'religion' in the sense of worship. For help they may call on a Vala (as Elbereth), as a Catholic might on a Saint, though no doubt knowing in theory as well as he that the power of the Vala was limited and derivative. But this is a 'primitive age': and these folk may be said to view the Valar as children view their parents or immediate adult superiors, and though they know they are subjects of the King he does not live in their country nor have there any dwelling.
På Hobbits:
I do not think Hobbits practised any form of worship or prayer (unless through exceptional contact with Elves).
Numerör, både före och efter Saurons ankomst, inklusive andra män som inte åkte dit:
The Númenóreans (and others of that branch of Humanity, that fought against Morgoth, even if they elected to remain in Middle-earth and did not go to Númenor: such as the Rohirrim) were pure monotheists. But there was no temple in Númenor (until Sauron introduced the cult of Morgoth). The top of the Mountain, the Meneltarma or Pillar of Heaven, was dedicated to Eru, the One, and there at any time privately, and at certain times publicly, God was invoked, praised, and adored: an imitation of the Valar and the Mountain of Aman. But Numenor fell and was destroyed and the Mountain engulfed, and there was no substitute.
Och Dunedain i Middle-earth:
Among the exiles, remnants of the Faithful who had not adopted the false religion nor taken part in the rebellion, religion as divine worship (though perhaps not as philosophy and metaphysics) seems to have played a small part; though a glimpse of it is caught in Faramir's remark on 'grace at meat'.
Brev 156 täcker höga älvor:
The High Elves were exiles from the Blessed Realm of the Gods (after their own particular
Elvish fall) and they had no 'religion' (or religious practices, rather) for those had been in the hands of the gods, praising and adoring Eru 'the One', Ilúvatar the Father of All on the Mt. of Aman.
Det finns många andra nämnder om religion i Mellanöstern som sprids genom brevet, men det allmänna resultatet och fullständigt konsekvent observation är att Middle-earth har ingen religion som vi skulle förstå det idag.