Rating: 
Summary: Great read! A really awesome book!
Review: This is an awesome book! I know J. R. R. Tolkein was big on anti-allegory, but the authors specifically state that they are not making his classics into an allegory; they are simply showing how his books can be used to illustrate a point, so to speak. This is a fantastic book to give to non-Christian Tolkein fans.
Rating:
Summary: Understanding the man
Review: If one reads other works about Tolkien, the man, not just as the inventor of Middle-Earth, one does take into account the uncontested fact that his faith did permeate his life. Although he didn't write LOTR primarily for any 'religious' purpose, it's simplistic to dismiss the fact that his faith, precisely as the life-blood that ran through his veins, does surface at various, unmistakeable points throughout LOTR. (The prior review, albeit with numerous spelling errors, tries to criticize the book for its allegorical approach. Perhaps we should give the authors the freedom to conduct whatever literary study they choose. Re: Tolkien's "hate" of allegory--I would like to see the source of that comment. That sounds more like C.S. Lewis' comment relating to his Chronicles of Narnia rather than Tolkien.)
Rating: 
Summary: Making quick money
Review: This book theories on that The Lord of the rings is a covert allegory of the Gospel.
If you are any fan of Tolkien you probably know that the one thing he hated more than anything was just that; allegory's. In my opinion, this book only sells the opinions of its writers and has nothing to do with Tolkien who always thought that every reader should interpit his books in his own way. An easy way to make some quick bucks in my opinion, buy some of Tolkiens work instead and make up your own mind.
Rating: 
Summary: Keep Looking
Review: This short book uses the themes and stories of Tolkien's Trilogy to draw similarities to various themes and stories from the Bible, with each chapter ending with a simple little reflection. It's actually more of a devotional work than scholarly work. People who are looking to learn more about Tolkien and his Christian faith should continue to look elsewhere - such as "J.R.R. Tolkien : Author of the Century" by Tom Shippey. Each chapter starts with a retelling of an event in Tolkien's trilogy, and continues to explore the theme or lesson to be learned from that event as it is also expressed in the scriptures, then ends with simple sentence reflection. The book sheds no real insights for anyone who has read Tolkien's trilogy and the Bible. As far as the Trilogy being secular or sacred, Tolkien was equally clear that while he was not writing an allegory, a myth may have some truth in it.
Rating:
Summary: Great introduction to Tolkien's beliefs
Review: Most don't realize how much Tolkien's Christian beliefs influenced his works. Sometimes sutble and unintentional, sometimes on purpose. This book details those connections. I wish it would have examined some of Tolkien's comments more as well as is friendship with C.S. Lewis, who is also known for his detailed fantasy literature. A good companion for your Tolkien library.
Rating:
Summary: Looking for something that isn't there...
Review: Lord of the Rings is the greatest work of fantasy fiction ever written (my opinion). One of the reasons for this is that it is a very secular story. Religion is never mentioned, none of the characters pray or attend church, no religious ceremonies are performed, no supernatural deities are called upon. The authors basic premise is that the good guys (and gals) in the story display such traits as honesty, integrity, faithfulness, devotion to duty, etc. Since good Christians also display these traits, then this a story about Christian values. This is not true. These traits are not exclusive to Christians; an atheist could also display similar traits. Morality is not legislated by religion.
As I mentioned earlier, this is a very secular story. The characters rely upon themselves and cooperation with others to solve their problems. They use logic and reason, not reliance upon some deity, to get the job done. A willingness to take personal responsibility for one's actions is a common theme. I think our own society would be a much better place if more people were willing to do the same.
Rating:
Summary: Deep Truths, Told Simply
Review: Brunner and Ware wrote a book that drove me to my clipboard to add to my file of notes that are of use when I again want to experience some truth more deeply. They wrote a very easily read book that gently brought forth the simple truths God uses in life......I loved the book and plan to purchase it for my children as gifts. Can I leave you with one of the lines I noted for my file?
"The scenes of your life serve a story much bigger than your own." Oh, it is hard to write only one. Just one more.
"Though you may be the star of your story, you are not the author." Because the book is so easily read and the truths may seem simple, it would be a mis-use of the opportunity it gives us to take it lightly.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointment
Review: "Finding God in Lord of the Rings" should be retitled "Reading Things into Lord of the Rings." The entire book, although generally well-written, is filled mostly with assumptions and badly-supported interpretations. I don't recommend this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Finding God in The Lord of the Rings
Review: Any serious Tolkien fan, any person who has spent countless hours reading and re-reading The Lord of the Rings, will be enlightened by this inspiring look into J.R.R. Tolkien's spiritual life and the affects it had on his writing.
The comparisons and parallels detailed in this book are not only an asset to Christian education, but are essential to everyday life.
Rating:
Summary: Ho Hum
Review: Well, I dunno. This is a nicely written but ultimately deeply flawed attempt to find religious meaning in a morally deep but ultimately unreligious book. Brunner and Ware dont get too trapped in dogma but dont dig up any illuminating truths either. Tolkien was a Christian and the trilogy is about responsibility and morality - It doesnt take a rocket scientist to pull out the comparisons to born-again, american-evangelist Christianity.
In the end it all comes down to typical religious circular reasoning. If you belive in an omnipresent God or Gods, youll find him/her/it/them in LOTR and/or reflections on his/her/its/their teachings in the text. Worth reading but not worth believing in
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