Religion

Common beliefs

God (Eru Ilúvatar)

“But Rúmil said: ‘Ilúvatar was the first beginning, and beyond that no wisdom of the Valar or of Eldar or of Men can go.’ ‘Who was Ilúvatar?’ asked Eriol. ‘Was he of the Gods?’ ‘Nay,’ said Rúmil, ‘that he was not, for he made them. Ilúvatar is the Lord for Always who dwells beyond the world; who made it and is not of it nor in it, but loves it.’ “
– The Book of Lost Tales

Eru (Q. “The One”), also called Ilúvatar (Q, “Allfather”), is the name of the supreme God in north-western Middle-earth. He is the single omnipotent creator, but, according to most beliefs, has delegated most direct action to the Ainur (angelic spirits), including the shaping of the World itself. God created Elves and Men, without delegation to the Ainur. Therefore they are called “Children of Ilúvatar” (Ad. Eruhini). Common belief among men is that Eru would someday enter World to save his Children (reflected, for example, in Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth). In Umbar and Bellakar, God is called Êru. Among the puritan Faithful congregations even the use of the word Êru is considered impious in any other context than in prayers.

Creation

“Therefore Ilúvatar gave to their vision Being, and set it amid the Void, and the Secret Fire was sent to burn at the heart of the World; and it was called Eä.”
– Valaquenta

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was Eä. The World (Q. Arda) is part of Eä, the universe of all which exists. It was first brought into existence with the Music of the Ainur, for the purpose of creating a home for the Children of God. Arda consists of the Earth, its atmosphere, and the celestial objects, including the separate Undying Lands of Aman. The term for the Earth itself is Ambar. In Adûnaic the world was called Kamât, Daira or Aban. The atmosphere is divided into Vista, the breathable “lower” air and Ilmen, the “upper” air or space, where planets and stars exist.

Ancient Númenoreans were first to formulate a theory of wandering stars. The oldest surviving astronomical text is the Númenórean tablet of Gimlu-Oresetel (c. II 1600), copy of a list of observations of the motions of the Eärendil’s Star (Venus). The Númenoreans also laid the foundations of Western astrology. The Batan an-Gimilêphel, written during the Ârûwânai period in the 27th century Second Age, comprises a list of omens and their relationships with various celestial phenomena including the motions of the planets. Númenoreans grouped the fixed and wandering stars in companies of seven.

Quenya	Common names	Constellation
Wilwarin	Butterfly	Cassiopeia
Telumendil	Friend of the Firmament	Gemini
Soronúmë	Eagle of the West	Aquila
Remmirath	Netted Stars, Sieve, Seven Sisters	Pleiades
Anarríma	Suncrown	Pegasus
Menelmacar	Swordsman of the Sky, Menelvagor, Telimektar, Daimord, Taimavar	Orion
Valacirca	Sickle of the Valar, Burning Briar, Plough, Otselen, Durin’s Crown	Ursa Major

Flame Imperishable

“…Only one thing I [Ilúvatar] have added, the fire that giveth Life and Reality, and behold, the Secret Fire burnt at the heart of the world.”
– The Music of the Ainur

In Quenta Silmarillion and other mythological texts of the Faithful, The Secret Fire and Flame Imperishable are references to the life-giving power imparted to the world by Eru Ilúvatar, the divine “spark” of life. Melkor, desiring power equal to Ilúvatar, sought for it in vain. Melkor’s desire for the Secret Fire led to his rebellion against Ilúvatar. It is part of the Nimruzîrian Trinity (The Word [Eä], The Father [Ilúvatar] and The Secret Flame), a concept devised in Númenor about the triune but inseparable nature of the Godhead. The Flame Imperishable is a central concept in some mystical sects and secret societies, such as the Golden Dawn (Tindómë-Lië) and the Order of the Red Hand (Côr Carammaitë).

Valar

Valar are angelic beings that act as emissaries or intermediaries of God. Each was granted insight into a specific part of Ilúvatar’s thought, and was therefore more aligned in spirit with that part. The only exception was Melkor, who was granted insight into every part of Ilúvatar’s thought and was the mightiest of the Ainur. The Faithful do not worship Valar, but honor and pray to them. Veneration of Valar is theologically distinct from the true worship, which is due to God alone.

Valar also appear in many folk religions, sometimes referred to as “gods”. Gondorian theologicians have often equated foreign gods and goddesses with Valar; it is often said that the Dwarves worship Aulë as their creator god, called Mahal. Northmen knew Oromë as Béma, and Easterlings of Rhûn called Manwë and Mandos Belobog and Chernobog (White God and Black God, respectively). In Faithful calendar all Valar have their own holy feast days, except Melkor.

Icon	Quenya names	Common names	Esoteric names	Titles	Feast day	Patronage	Attributes
	Manwë (“Blessed one”) Súlimo Ilmarin (“Mansion of the High Airs”)	Aran Einior (Sindarin) Amân (Adûnaic) Adûnakhôr (Adûnaic) Perun (Easterlings) Belobog (Easterlings)	Calamandos: “Light-ruler”, brother of Morimandos	King of Heavens, Lord of the Breath of Arda, Elder King, Lord of the West	13.6.	Heaven, clouds, rulers, birds, winds, rains, life, benevolence, governors, lawyers, scribes, navigators, theologians, astrologers, horologists, farmers, falconers, fowlers	Clouded mountain, Sapphire sceptre, eagle, blue mantle, blue eyes
	Varda (“Exalted”) Elentári (“Star-queen) Tintallë (“Kindler”) Airë Tári (“Holy Queen”)	Elbereth Gilthoniel (Sindarin) Avradî (Adûnaic) Gimilnitîr (Adûnaic)	Fanuilos (“Figure upon Uilos”), Keeper of the Primeval Light, Lady of Holy Wisdom	Holy Queen, Lady of the West, Star-Queen, Enkindler	9.6. 20.11.	Heaven, elves, queens and princesses, heavenly bodies, lampwrights, candlemakers, glassblowers, month of Girithron	Crown of stars, blue mantle, white veil, roses
	Ulmo	Ylmir (Rhovanion) Gulma (Adûnaic)	–	King of the Sea, Lord of Waters, Dweller of the Deep, The Pourer	23.7. 4.4.	Deep sea, sailors, fishermen, shipwrights, rope-makers, firemen, whalers, horns, month of Úrui	Sea-green mantle and scale armour, trident, seashells, triton, green eyes
	Yavanna (“Giver of fruits”) Kementári (“Earth-queen”)	Ivann (Sindarin) Ivon (Sindarin) Uldona (Easterlings)	Palúrien (“Bosom of the Earth”) Bladorwen (“Mother Earth”)	Queen of the Earth, Giver of Fruits	14.4.– 20.4. 23.4. 24.8.	Earth, orchards, fields, vineyards, farmers, gardeners, foresters, beekeepers, innkeepers, vintners, natural philosophy, months of Ivanneth and Gwirith	Ripe fruit, green robes, brown eyes, two trees
	Aulë (“Invention”)	Belegol (Sindarin) Gaul (Sindarin) Mahal (Dwarves) Gobha (Dunlendings)	Barthan (“World-artificer”)	The Maker, Great Smith	8.7.	Earth, mountains, stone, smithing, craftsmen, creativity, architects, arithmetic, miners, builders, tradesmen, sacred geometry, month of Cerveth	Red mantle, hammer, brown eyes
	Námo (“Ordainer”) Mandos	Bannos (Sindarin) Badhron (Sindarin) Agân (adûnaic) Hel (Rhovanion) Chernobog (Easterlings) Vanth (Bellakar)	Morimandos, the dark counterpart and brother of Kalamando. One of he Fëanturi, masters of spirits	Ruler of the Dead, Judge, Doomsman, Castle of Custody	9.1.	Death, mortuaries, gravediggers, mourners, coroners, judges, gaolers, executioners, doors, prisons, month of Narwain, endings and beginnings	Black robes, scroll
	Nienna Fui (“Night”)	Heskil (Bellakar)	–	Lady of Sorrow, Lady of Pity and Mourning, Lady of Mercy	22.8.	Conscience, grief, pity, night, darkness, tears, embalmers, orphans, lay healers, the poor	Grey veil
	Oromë Tauron (“Lord of the Woods”)	Araw (Sindarin) Béma (Rhovanion) Baumya (Rhovanion)	Wild Hunt, Horned God	Huntsman, Trumpeter, Great Rider, Lord of Forests, Lord of the Hunt	10.10.	Forests, wilderness, wild beasts, hunters, dogs, kine, horses, archers, knights, linguists, envoys, scouts, heralds, woodcutters, fletchers, bowyers	Bow and spear, horse (Nahar)
	Irmo (“Desirer”) Lórien (“Dream land”)	–	One of the Fëanturi, masters of spirits	Master of Desire, Dream Lord, Ruler of the Underworld	4.2.	Sleep, dreams, rest, solace, soothsayers, visions, signs, omens, portents, sages, poppies, secrets, alchemists, illuminators, artists, painters, month of Nínui	Cauldron, scroll, green robes
	Estë (“Rest”)	Îdh (Sindarin) Eord (Rhovanion)	–	Lady of Healing, the Gentle	21.10.	Renewal, rest, healing, peace, apothecaries, physicians, month of Hithui	Golden crown of Lórien, poppies, grey mantle
	Vairë (“Weaver”)	Gwîr (Sindarin) Morana (Easterlings)	One of the Three Sisters, Lady of Witchcraft	Weaver, The Crone, Lady of Fate	21.2.	Fate, history, memory, weavers, spinners, clothmakers, embroiders, tailors, widows, month of Gwaeron	Distaff, grey hair
	Vána	Ostara (Rhovanion) Živa (Easterlings)	One of the Three Sisters	Ever-Young, The Maiden, Lady of Hope, Mistress of Flowers	28.4. 29.4.	Youth, love, beauty, flowers, birds, hope, bloom, spring, fertility, virgins, midwives, children, haberdashers, brewesses, dairymaids, month of Lothron	Flowers
	Nessa Indis (“Bride”)	Devana (Easterlings)	One of the Three Sisters	The Bride, Lady of Luck, Mistress of Joy	23.5.	Joy, happiness, luck, dance, deer, good marriage, hunting, archers, actors, performers, courtesans, creativity, bonfires, art, month of Nórui	Roe deer
	Tulkas Astaldo (“Valiant”)	Thalion (Sindarin) Thur (Rhovanion)	Ender (“The Bridegroom”)	The Valiant, Champion of the Valar	1.6.	Strength, power, war, male virility, martial arts, prowess, soldiers, commoners, serfs, crofteres, rat-catchers, plowmen, bakers, tanners, roofers, cobblers	Golden beard, ruddy skin
	Melkor	Morgoth (Sindarin) Bauglir (Sindarin) Belegurth (Sindarin) Melko (Adûnaic)	Prince of This World, Secret Fire, Giver of Freedom	Dark Lord, Master of the Fates of Arda, The Great Deceiver, Fallen One, The Enemy	–	Pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, sloth, abuse, natural disasters, plagues, insects, reptiles, wolves, cats, lies, volcanoes	Grond, iron crown, dragon

Theology

Body and Soul

“The fëa is indestructible, a unique identity which cannot be disintegrated or absorbed into any other identity.”
– Commentary on the Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth

Fëa and hröa are elvish words for “soul” and “body”. The plural forms are fëar and hröar.

The Children of Ilúvatar are described as existing as two parts: they have a “spirit” or “soul” called fëa, and a body or hröa which is made out of the matter of Arda (erma); for this reason hröar are Marred (or, using another expression, contain a “Melkor ingredient”). According to the Faithful, the fëa is powerless without the hröa, and likewise the hröa would die without the fëa.

In the Silmarillion, elves do not die of disease or of old age. However, elves may be slain or lose the will to live, for instance because of grief. When an elf dies, the fëa leaves the hröa, which then “dies”. The fëa is summoned to the Halls of Mandos, where it is judged; however as with death their free-will is not taken away, they could refuse the summons. If allowed by Mandos, the fëa may be re-embodied into a new body that is identical to the previous hröa (according to Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth, it may also re-enter the incarnate world through child-birth). A fëa may decide to stay in the Halls of Mandos, or it may be denied re-embodiment. This would normally only occur if it had done much evil (or those Ñoldor under the Doom of Mandos). In such a case the fëa might have to wait very long or might never be allowed to leave Mandos. In Arnorian folklore, Fëanor is doomed to be the gatekeeper, constantly ferrying new souls to Mandos.

The situation of Men is different. Immediately after death, the fëa departs to Mandos where it undergoes judgement in which the soul’s eternal destiny is specified. According to dualist interpretations of the Númenorean faith common in Umbar and Bellakar, the virtuous are immediately and eternally united with God in the Timeless Halls, others are destined to be purged from their wrong deeds in Mandos. There is no orthodoxy how long mannish souls should remain in the Halls of Mandos. It is universally accepted that mannish fëar have Free Will and thus as able to escape Arda completely to be united with God, whereas Elves are bound by Fate to remain in Arda even after death. Some believe that those who refuse the Love of God, and do not wish to leave Arda, descend into Udûn (Hell) to be thralls of Morgoth until the Second Prophecy is fulfilled and World is made Anew.

Not only the Children of Ilúvatar possess souls: they are also granted to some animals, ents and dwarves.

Arda Marred

In the beginning, the angelic spirits were invited to enter into the world to participate more closely in its ordering and unfolding. Melkor incarnated himself permanently within the world in the attempt to dominate and control matter. He impressed himself totally upon the world, and the world bears his imprint to the extent that he himself is dissipated in the process. Morgoth disseminated his vast power into the world itself with the result that the whole of Middle-earth was “Morgoth’s Ring”. This means that evil cannot simply be overcome by force without destroying creation, which is in effect to do evils work.

Arda Unmarred (Q. Arda Alahasta) is the original world as devised by the Valar, which was effectively destroyed by Melkor.

Arda Marred (Q. Arda Hastaina) is the name given to the world as it is: the world after the dispersing of Melkor’s fëa in the entire world. It is this world from which are formed the hröa of the Children of Ilúvatar, and therefore it is a cruel and evil world with plagues, famines, extreme colds, heat, and other concepts which do not exist in Arda Unmarred. In Arda Marred all spirits will slowly fade, until at last they are naught but wraiths. One of the special abilities of the Three Rings was that they could delay time, and as such were used by Elrond and Galadriel to preserve their realms.

Arda Healed (Q. Arda Envinyanta). After the Dagor Dagorath, Melkor will be destroyed, and the world broken; a new world will then be created by Iluvatar with all his Children, which will be Arda Healed. This world will resemble Arda Unmarred, but will be even better, since it will also incorporate all the good aspects of Arda Marred.

Second Prophecy

The Second Prophecy of Mandos describes the end of the world, called Dagor Dagorath (S. “The Final Battle”) as believed by the Faithful of Gondor and Arnor. The Later Silmarillion (Vinyar Silmarillion) ends with a prophecy by Mandos about the Dagor Dagorath, which is omitted from the standard edition. In Akallabêth, Elendil prophesied that Ar-Pharazôn and his mortal warriors who had set foot on Aman were buried in the Caves of the Forgotten until the “Last Battle and Day of Doom”, when they would have to choose between Ilúvatar and Melkor.

There are several versions of the Prophecy, but all concur that Melkor will discover how to break the Door of Night, and will destroy the Sun and the Moon. For the love of these, Eärendil will return from the sky and shall meet Tulkas, Eönwë , and Túrin Turambar on the plains of Valinor. All peoples of Middle-earth will participate in this final battle, elves, men and dwarves alike. There the forces of the Valar shall fight against Melkor, who will have resurrected many of his old followers, including Sauron. Ar-Pharazôn and all his men will be released from their eternal prison.

Tulkas will wrestle with Melkor, Eönwe will wound him, and it will be by the hand of reborn Túrin Turambar that finally death and destruction will be dealt to Melkor. Túrin will run his reforged black sword Gurthang through Melkor’s heart, thus avenging the Children of Húrin and all Men. Then mountains will be levelled, the three Silmarils will be recovered from the earth, sea, and sky, and Fëanor’s spirit shall be released from the halls of Mandos to give them to Yavanna, who will break them and rekindle the light. Following this, there will be a Second Music of the Ainur. This song will sing into being a new world, and Men will sing it with the Ainur.

Major religions in Middle-earth

Name	Theism	God(s)	Authority	Core beliefs	Body and soul	Theodicy	Region
Orthodox Faithful (Elendili)	Monarchist Monotheism, Veneration of Valar	Eru	– Line of Elros; anointed monarch is the Seal of the Covenant and primary authority – The holy scripture (Silmarillion, Akallabêth) is secondary authority	– Only the true King can worship Eru – Holy Trinity: Word, Father and Flame Imperishable – Valar are intermediaries of the One God, prayers can be directed to Eru through them – Pilgrimage is beneficial	– Body is made of matter and thus destructible; Soul is made of Flame Imperishable and is indestructible – After death, Souls (Fëa) will go to the Halls of Mandos where they are jugded; sinners will have to wait for their atonement, saints go straight to God	– Material world is bad, because Melkor incarnated himself permanently in the world. Second Coming is the End of the world; World will be made anew and all Faithful will live in paradise	Arnor, Gondor, Umbar
Pietism	Monotheism, Veneration of Valar	Eru	– The holy scripture (Silmarillion, Akallabêth) is primary authority – Every Faithful can have direct communion with God	– Everyone can worship Eru – Holy Trinity: Word, Father and Flame Imperishable – Valar are intermediaries of the One God, prayers can be directed to Eru through them – Pilgrimage is beneficial – Personal revelation and prophecy is possible	– Body is made of matter and thus destructible; Soul is made of Flame Imperishable and is indestructible – After death, Souls (Fëa) will go to the Halls of Mandos where they are jugded; sinners will have to wait for their atonement, saints go straight to God	– Material world is bad, because Melkor incarnated himself permanently in the world. Second Coming is the End of the world; World will be made anew and all Faithful will live in paradise	Arnor, Gondor, Dorwinion
Dissident Faithful (Saerosian Heresy)	Pure Monotheism	Eru	– All authorities are flawed – Truth is found by exegesis	– Everyone can worship Eru – Stories about Valar are probably just stories – Orthodox Faithful are misleading the people about the King’s divine powers	– We don’t know where our souls go after death	– People have free will to do bad or good deeds, nothing in the material world is inherently evil, it just is	Gondor
Ascetic Faithful (Legalist Path)	Monarchist Monotheism, Veneration of Avaloîm	Eru	– Númenorean Law and interpretation of the holy scripture is primary authority – Judges can give religious rulings, they are secondary authority	– Line of Kings is broken; there is no Seal of the Covenant, no one can worship Eru directly – Holy Trinity: Word, Father and Flame Imperishable – There are a number of angelic beings who help God	– After death, Souls (Fëa) will go to the Halls of Mandos where they are jugded; sinners will have to wait for their atonement, saints go straight to God – Restless souls who resists the Summons can wander upon the Earth	– Material world is bad, because Melkor incarnated himself permanently in the world. Second Coming is the End of the world; World will be made anew and all Faithful will live in paradise	Umbar, Harnendor
Ascetic Faithful (Fatalist Path)	Pure Monotheism	Eru	– Númenorean Law and interpretation of the holy scripture is primary authority – Judges can give religious rulings, they are secondary authority	– There is no Free Will; everything that was, is, and will be, was sung into existence in the great music of Ainur – Men are created both good and bad, and there is no way to redemption	– Body is made of matter and thus destructible; Soul is made of Flame Imperishable and is indestructible – After death, Souls (Fëa) will go to the Halls of Mandos where they are jugded; sinners go to hell	– Material world is bad, because Melkor incarnated himself permanently in the world. Second Coming is the End of the world; World will be made anew and all righteous men will live in paradise	Umbar, Bellakar
Unionism	Monarchist Monotheism, Veneration of Valar	Eru	– Númenorean Law and interpretation of the holy scripture is primary authority – Judges can give religious rulings, they are secondary authority	– A savior will be born from the Line of Elros who will bring about the Second Coming and Kingdom of God on Earth – All descendants of Númenor will be united under one divinely ordained monarch	– After death, everyone can have Redemption in the Halls of Mandos – Restless souls who resists the Summons can wander upon the Earth	– Material world is bad, because Melkor incarnated himself permanently in the world. Second Coming is the End of the world; World will be made anew and all righteous men will live in paradise	Umbar
Ârûwânai (“King’s Men” or “Black Númenoreans”)	Dualism	Eru, Mulkhêr	– Divine revelation, written down in corpus of ancient texts is primary authority	– A Savior of mankind is called Mairon, King Excellence, who gave laws, crafts and agriculture to mortals – God is evil but impotent; He tries to harm Men	– Soul is eternal; after death, righteous men can have eternal life in the Undying Lands of Aman, ruled by Ar-Pharazôn, last King of Númenor	– World was created by the Demiurge, Mulkhêr, who represents primeval chaos – World is chaotic and evil things happen randomly	Anbalukkhôr, Umbar
Kâthasaptha (Eternal Wisdom)	Synchretic Dualism, Henoteism	Eru, Ladnoca	– Anointed monarch is the Seal of the Covenant and primary authority – Priesthood is secondary authority	– God created the world; he also made himself a wife – Sun and Moon, God and Goddess rule the universe together – There are a number of lesser divinities or angelic beings who are helpful	– Soul is eternal; after death, all men go to Netherworld of Mandos, guarded by Fëanor, the Raftsman of the Dead – Restless souls can wander upon the Earth	– Material world is good; but evil spirits try to lead men astray	Bellakar
Batan an-Izindi (Path of Rightousness)	Pure monotheism	Eru	– Prophet Izindubêth received divine revelation on the mountain of Urud an-Khibil; his teachings are primary authority – Interpretation of these teachings are secondary authority	– Five pillars of Faith: 1) There is only One God 2) You must pray him five times a day 3) You must give alms to charity 4) There is a fasting once a year 5) You must do a pilgrimage to Urud an-Khibil	– Soul is Breath; it is not eternal and is separated at death. If God wills, Soul is lifted to His domain, otherwise; it disappears or is doomed to wander upon the Earth	– Material world is good because it was created by Eru; but evil spirits try to lead men astray	Harad, Bellakar, Umbar
Melkorism	Monotheism	Melkor	– Priesthood of Melkor is primary authority	– Melkor created the world from primeval chaos; he also created nine Divine Beings, of whom the Peacock King (Mairon) was appointed as the leader. Melkor assigned all of the world’s affairs to these nine Divine Beings.	– After death, souls return to Netherworld and lose their identity; only select few are reborn in new bodies	– Material world is chaotic and unpredictable, evil things happen randomly	Khand, Nûrn, Palisor, Rhûn, Forodwaith
Rhûnic Paganism	Ethnoreligious polytheism	A court of divine powers	– Folklore is primary authority	– The world is inhabited by a variety of spirits, some bad, some good; they are not human in nature, but can be represented as persons and worshipped	– After death, souls return to Netherworld where they will exist forever until they lose their identity; select few may be reborn in descendants	– Amount of luck in the world is constant; if you gain some, others lose some	Rhûn
Haruze paganism	Ethnoreligious polytheism	Triune Goddess: Ishtra, Ladnoca, Manat	– Priesthood of the Triune Goddess and folk tales are primary authority	– Virginal Ishtra is the Lady of the Morning Star and Daughter of the Western Sea, goddess of love and war and sea – Fertile Ladnoca is the Lady of the Moon, goddess of agriculture and marriage – Crone Manat is the Lady of the Evening Star, goddess of memory, fate and death	– Everything flows; world is eternal and without end, bodies are born and reborn, there is no soul but the Triune Goddess	– Good and evil are matters of perspective; for the Triune Goddess, the world just is what it is	Near Harad, Bellakar
Apysani paganism	Polytheism, Fetishism	Literally hundreds; called Kôlir	– The Priest-King is primary authority – Priesthoods of the Kôlir and folk tales are secondary authority	– Man-made objects such as talismans and amulets can have divine powers – Charms and spells can be used to influence the world – Divine beings can help or harm you, you should appease them as well as you can	– Souls belong to the Spirit World, where they return after death; they can still help the living; you can also eat the body of your foe and gain the power of his soul	– World is chaotic and evil; divine beings must be appeased by 1) albino sacrifice 2) judicial sacrifice 3) slave sacrifice 4) widow sacrifice 5) genital mutilation 6) animal sacrifice	Far Harad