For fans of J.R.R. Tolkien and the literary club that formed around him in the 1930s to the 1950s, you will know how beer, hobbits, and theology go together. Each week, for a two and a half decades, a group of mythmakers, poets, and fantasy writers gathered in college rooms or a local pub–and sometimes in both–to read from their works in progress. Unknown when they began, the figures of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, Roger Lancelyn Green, and a few others became leading figures in their special fields and in the genres they loved most. The Inklings, as they were known, are now a part of our cultural canon.
While The Hobbit was born in darker corners, and Narnia did not capture everyone’s sympathy, much of The Lord of the Rings and Lewis’ speculative fiction and apologetics works were read aloud to a small cluster of literary men, veiled in cigarette smoke, manuscripts dampened by cider and covered in editorial marks. At these meetings the conversations could move from great books–and bad ones–to politics, history, and theology.
Given how the Lord of the Rings was brought to life in a pub, I thought some Hobbits’ tales would be perfect when I was invited to give a talk “Theology on Tap.” This is a local tradition, at least, where professors share their leading discoveries at a “Research on Tap,” or where they talk about the intersection between faith and critical thought at a “Theology on Tap.”
I’m quite looking forward to it.
I am speaking about How Hobbits Save the World. I am suggesting that there is a hidden, subversive quality to Tolkien’s work that has profound implications for faith, life, culture, and politics. I’ll be talking about how that quality works itself out in other authors like C.S. Lewis, Madeleine L’Engle, and J.K. Rowling–and to what extend other authors offer an “anti-Hobbit” vision.
Now I know that most readers are more than a little far from our local pub. 70% of Pilgrim in Narnia readers are American or British, and another 15% are from other parts of the world. You may not be able to make it to little Prince Edward Island, and it is difficult to Skype microbrew to one another.
But for those who are within striking distance, come on down to the Pourhouse at 7:00 on Thursday, Jan 28th. It’s right above the Olde Triangle, and as far as I know there are no celtic codewords needed. I invite you to raise a glass–or a question–on what should be a fun night. And who knows what might come of it?
Get the full poster here: Concerning-Hobbits (1)
A Pilgrim in Narnia 
Unfortunately I’m on the other side of the pond, but this sounds excellent! I’ve always wanted to visit Prince Edward Island (as a life-long Anne of Green Gables fan), but it’s still a little far to travel for one evening. Hope you have a great evening 🙂
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Yes, it’s a long trip for a single night. But an Anne tour is something all Montgomery fans should plan into their lives somewhere.
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It’s a mere 11 hour drive from Boston. If only I could convince my wife to let me go. 😀
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Come on up. We’ve got extra couches!
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Thanks Brenton! Sorry I missed the event. How did it turn out?
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It turned out quite well, actually. One of the more fun things I’ve ever done. I’ve linked the video here: https://apilgriminnarnia.com/2016/02/01/a-hobbits-theology-2016-pub-talk/.
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Wish I could go! I’m all the way in south Florida though, so I’ll have to have a beer in your honor and look for the recap. 🙂 Sounds super interesting!
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Yes, Florida is a bit far. We took our honeymoon there. We left in light snow, moved quickly through spring, and landed in FL in the heat of summer. Only a 6 day drive!
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🙂
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over 500 miles WSW for me
and what wanderwolf said
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500 miles isn’t so far!
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Will there be a video/audio recording, or at least a transcript?
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My transcript is a mess of notes, and there will probably be a bootleg audio. I doubt a video–it is a dark pub with bad sound and 100 people clinking glasses on the table… We’ll see!
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Actually, they did video record it: Check it out here: https://apilgriminnarnia.com/2016/02/01/a-hobbits-theology-2016-pub-talk/
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Yay!!! I have noticed that Neville Longbottom is hobbitish before! (He has chosen the weak things of the world, … and the despised things, … and the things that are not… Strength perfected in weakness…)
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Neville has the same challenge in the 1st HP book that Lucy has to face in Prince Caspian: to stand up to their peers. Neville is wrong… of course! But he has quite a discovery through the books. He is very Lucy-like in some ways.
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So, how’d it go?
(And does the ghastly-sounding Anne of Green Gables remake fall under an “anti-Hobbit” vision?)
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It was quite awesome, actually. Check out the vid here: https://apilgriminnarnia.com/2016/02/01/a-hobbits-theology-2016-pub-talk/
Anne, I think, is a different kind of inversion–not the Small but the Unexpected. She comes in, surprises, and is providentially what everyone was looking for but never knew.
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Hurray! Good for them filming, and you posting (now to schedule my viewing…)!
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