MAGA influencer Jack Posobiec on Thursday prompted unbridled mockery from legions of “Lord of the Rings” fans after claiming that the books are not “overtly Christian” — despite author J.R.R. Tolkien himself once stating just how “fundamentally” Catholic they really are.
“I’ve heard people try to make the argument that ‘Lord of the Rings’ is overtly Christian and I hate to burst the bubble, guys, but you’re just wrong,” Posobiec said in a clip published Thursday from his “Human Events Daily” podcast.
He continued, “There’s nothing overtly Christian about ‘Lord of the Rings.’ Uh, there’s no church in it, there’s no faith in it, there’s no Christ figure — there’s none of these things. And honestly, ‘Lord of the Rings,’ if it’s anything, ‘Lord of the Rings’ is overtly pagan.”
Posobiec was clearly unaware that Tolkien wrote in a 1953 letter before the first edition was published, “The Lord of the Rings is of course a fundamentally religious and Catholic work.”
But he was ultimately reminded by critics on X with the speed of the Eye of Sauron itself.
“This may be one of the stupidest takes to ever have been uttered,” wrote one user, with another person noting: “Tolkien literally said ‘The Lord of the Rings is of course fundamentally religious and Catholic.’ Not hard guys. On what level that occurs is another question.”
The religious themes are certainly more symbolic than overt, but very much still present. Tolkien explained in his letter that he omitted “all references to anything like ‘religion’” precisely because “the religious element is absorbed into the story and the symbolism” itself.
Left: PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP/Getty Images; Right: Jae C. Hong/Associated Press
Posobiec went on to dig an even deeper hole for himself on Thursday, stating, “You got these libtards like [Stephen] Colbert who, like, love it. And if this thing is like, oh, it’s overtly Christian, I’m like, well then why does a guy like Colbert love it so much?”
The “Late Show” host is Catholic and has frequently acknowledged as much on the program. Colbert announced Wednesday that he is officially writing the script for an upcoming installment in the “Rings” franchise for director Peter Jackson.
Posobiec’s claim that the Tolkien books are “overtly Pagan” arguably fell just as flat, as the author was not only a deeply devout Catholic but also helped translate The Jerusalem Bible — which only gave critics more reason to ridicule the MAGA pundit on social media.
