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I'm sorry, but I don't understand how anybody can find Christian allegory in the Middle-Earth creation myth. The legend laid out in the Sillmarilion is blatantly polytheistic and pagan. Furthermore the one "high god", if you will, was totally uninvolved in the creation of mankind, and not even remotely related to their daily lives. The book even specifies that nobody, not even the gods, knew what happens to the human soul after death. Heck, the lead characters even redeem the world and vanquish the "satan" character on their own...WITHOUT Gods help. That's about as un-Christian as you can get.

What the Lord of the Rings is, is a stunningly well told tale of good versus evil. It's a tale where nobility and strength of character are proven to be mightier than even the worst evils. It's a tale about facing darkness, adversity, and your greatest fears to do good. It's a tale about the good one small group of people can do when they are willing to put their lives aside and TRY. And finally, its a tale that explores our own mythologies, and tries to tie them all together. But above all, it's fantasy. As much as I love Tolkiens works, I never let myself forget that they were written for entertainment (though I myself own a $300 leather bound LotR set printed on Bible paper with beautiful gold inlay).

Some aspects of the books may in fact reflect Christian ideals, but claiming that Tolkien intended LotR to be a tool to spread the Christian message ignores the upfront polytheism and legends he wove into them. I've read every work by J.R.R. Tolkien several times, and most of the backround writings released by his son Christopher. I personally feel that Tolkiens Middle-Earth series is probably one of the few pieces of modern literature that genuinely qualifies as "art", but I think that attempts to find religious or spiritual meaning in the stories are rather pathetic and are a definite reach. It's just a story folks.

Of course it's fiction; if that's all you get out of it, well, it's worth the money. However, there are so many little things you see when you read the books, and the Silmarillion. For instance, all the elves you meet in Middle-Earth are "fallen" elves who cannot go home until they redeem themselves. After the destruction of the Ring, they are forgiven and allowed to lave - but those races who remain in Middle-Earth are made poor. Bilbo was able to give up the Ring before it got a hold on his soul; this saved him.

Many images and themes in these books are Christian; and as for the Creation myth in the Silmarillion, you should read the similar story in Lewis' "Magician's Nephew" for the full power to hit you. And reread it - who is in control of the Music? Who can take Melkor's discordant strains and make a far more glorious piece of them? Is it not an allegory of the One who took Satan's deception of mankind and made a far more glorious redemption?