Tolkien once described
The Lord of the Rings to his friend, the English
Jesuit Father Robert Murray, as "
a fundamentally religious and Catholic work, unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision."
^[20] There are many theological themes underlying the narrative including the battle of good versus evil, the triumph of humility over pride, and the activity of
grace. In addition the epic includes themes which incorporate death and immortality, mercy and pity, resurrection, salvation, repentance, self-sacrifice, free will, justice, fellowship, authority and healing. In addition the Lord's Prayer, especially the line "And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil", was reportedly present in Tolkien's mind as he described Frodo's struggles against the power of the One Ring.
^[20] A specifically Christian influence is the notion of the
Fall of man, which influenced the
Ainulindalë, the
Kinslaying at Alqualondë, and the fall of
Númenor.
^[21]
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