Old Men, Wise Men, and Morgan Freeman

Close your eyes and imagine what God would look like. I'd be willing to bet some serious dough that your mind drew up a figure similar to that of an old man with a white beard. You can see the wisdom resonating from the wrinkles on his forehead and the kindness emanating from his clear eyes. He's probably garbed in long, white robes too. Maybe he's even sitting on a cloud with light penetrating through it from all directions.

Why do we all have this similar image in our minds when we try to imagine God? Is it an internal creation or  simply a result of the media?

I'm guessing you're imagining something similar to this.
Looks a bit like Gandalf doesn't he?

Everyone Christian knows that God created us in his own image. Each and every person on this planet was created with elements of God's own being.

Let's take a look at the human population from a global perspective. About 26% of the 7 billion people living here as under the age of 15 and 11% are over the age of 60. 54% are Asian (which includes East, South, and Southeast Asian), 15% Black, 15% White, 8% Hispanic, and 8% Middle Eastern. The gender ratio is about 1.01 males for every female. Clearly, not every human on the planet is an old Caucasian man. Then how come when you google "God" nearly every result is this same?

We're not all old, white males...

Old Caucasian men make up a very small percentage of people on this planet, so it seems unlikely that only these select few were created in God's image. The Bible tells us that we all were. The only explanation then, must be the influence of the media. Looking back in time, the majority of paintings and images created of God appeared in Western Europe during the Renaissance. Since the majority of artists in this area were white males at the time, it makes sense for them to have portrayed God in this godfather-like image. I guess people liked the innocence and wisdom they saw in his old age and white beard, because the image stuck.

Gandalf's similarities to Jesus Christ and God the father help to explain his appearance. There's a reason why Peter Jackson cast Ian McKellen as Gandalf and not Morgan Freeman. The Ian McKellen version of Gandalf holds true to the traditional representations of God, his flowing white beard and wrinkles of wisdom helping to satisfy the image that viewers have of God when they close their eyes.

It's interesting to look at how, as times and attitudes change, so do our representations of God. When J.R.R. Tolkien began writing his novels that took place in Middle Earth over 70 years ago, racist attitudes were still predominant in much of the white man's culture. As a Christian growing up in Western Europe, he was certainly exposed to the traditional depictions of God as an old man with a Gandalf-like appearance.

Fast-forward to today. We've made it past the slave era, through the hippy age, and into the 21st century. Racism in many places is nearly nonexistent, especially in the younger generation. The 26% of the population that is under 15 might very well have an entirely different image of God in their minds now as a result of the media.

Hands down, one of the most famous and recognizable voices among today's celebrities is that of Morgan Freeman. Perhaps that's why he has been cast as God in several different movies. The average viewer might have been surprised during Bruce Almighty, to watch a wise-sounding, deep voice turn into a tall, black man. But Freeman did such an excellent job portraying God in this film that he was chosen to play this role again in Evan Almighty.

Morgan Freeman as "God". I'm liking the new white suit
that has replaced the traditional white robe.

Depending on your age, you must either be nodding your head in agreement or shaking it with confusion. Casting Morgan Freeman as God was certainly a devation from His typical portrayals, but for the younger crowd this is becoming normal. Personally, I'm a bit conflicted. As a nineteen-year-old in this society, I can't decide what image my mind most often creates when I try to imagine God. Sometimes I picture Morgan Freeman, while other times Gandalf appears. The script-writers of Bruce Almighty were clearly aware of the belief that God created us in his own image, for they rejected the stereotype and introduced a new possibility for his appearance. Unless, like Jesus Christ or Gandalf, you've died and been resurrected, you don't know what God truly looks like. But at least now we know why we've been trained to image him in the ways that we do – simply a result of the ever-changing media.

A Story Within a Story

I hope that by now the whole Gandalf-Christ similarities are starting to make you wonder whether religion exists in Middle Earth, because there's plenty more to compare. If you have read the bible or know anything about Christianity, you'll have noticed the similarities between biblical figures and the characters of Middle Earth.

Let's start with the bad guy: Saruman. The sad thing is, he was not always bad. Saruman, one of the most powerful wizards of the land, was once a good friend of Gandalf's until he betratyed him. Is he starting to sound a little like Lucifer, one of the most powerful angels who turned to the dark side? 

Perhaps the most lethal power of these two "angels-gone-bad" is their words. The devil represents temptation and is particularly powerful when it comes to convincing others to join him. He even persuades Eve to eat from the only tree that God had instructed her not to touch. But he is not the only one who has a way with words. Saruman is able to convince countless creatures to join the dark side too. As powerful as they are, neither of these evils can overcome the saviors. The devil fails in his attempt to tempt Christ in the desert just as miserably as Saruman fails to convince Gandalf to join him. They are not omnipotent.

Lucifer the Dark Angel

Saruman Gone Bad

On a lighter note, there exists a beautiful Elven queen whose appearance might ring a bell. Lady Galadriel has a gently, motherly demeanor and seems to possess a power of salvation. Both Frodo and Sam look to her as a last resort in their most desperate times of need. You get that motherly savior type feel when the two hobbits call upon Galadriel's phial to save them from a nasty looking, monstrous spider. If this doesn't sound symbolic of the Virgin Mary, I don't know what will.

Lady Galadriel

Virgin Mary

You can't leave out they Elven waybread either. Without it, Frodo and Sam would likely have died from starvation, for it gave them the physical sustenance and renewed spirits that they needed in order to keep moving forward.

Waybread (also known as Lembas)

Eucharist Bread

Both are small, broken pieces of bread used to refresh spirits. It goes without saying that the waybread is meant to be symbolic of the Eucharist. Typical author move again to include little details that imply similarities but never directly say so. But what fun would there be in reading, if there were no surprises and you were never required to think? Tolkien tells us later on in his life that he includes Christianity in Middle Earth, but it is up to the reader to find it.

Not Your Average Wizard

I bet you're still wondering how on earth this Middle Earth of Tolkien's is supposed to be based on the world we come from. And how can there be a religion without him ever saying so in the books? That's where symbolism comes in handy. There's plenty of that.

Let's take a look at some of the characters you'll meet in Middle Earth. One of the first recorded journeys of this world was that of the Hobbit Bilbo, 13 Dwarves, and the enigmatic wizard, Gandalf. This journey to find the dragon Smaug sets the stage for the Lord of the Rings trilogy and introduces us to perhaps the most mysterious character you'll ever come across. So many pages where Gandalf comes alive, yet few can answer the question: who is he?

Perhaps one of the defining moments of Gandalf's character occurs during his death. In The Fellowship of the Ring, he makes the ultimate sacrifice by fighting off a dangerous monster called a Balrog so that his companions can escape. To me, one of the most memorable scenes during the movie is when Gandalf stands in front of the enormous creature and yells "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!". Knowing full well he stood little to no chance against the Balrog, he fights anyway and falls off the bridge along with the Balrog deep into the shadows. A tragic ending for such a magnificent wizard, but a heroic one at that.

Can you think of anyone else who sacrifices himself for the salvation of mankind? This isn't the only time Gandalf bears resemblance to Jesus Christ. His appearance in the second book and movie of the trilogy is similar to that of Christ; he garbs himself in only white robes and always seems to be radiating with light. Wait...hold up.

Remember that scene when he fell to his death into a fiery chasm? And now he's standing in front of us looking like a savior?? I mean, I knew wizards were powerful, but resurrection? That's definitely beyond the ability of your average wizard.

Gandalf the White

 
vs              Jesus Christ



The whole sacrifice-death-resurrection phenomenon aside, Gandalf still has powers that go beyond your average wizard. He never fails to be in the right place at the right time. And he knows things. Like when Bilbo leaves out a few minor details in the retelling of his escape from the Goblins (by minor I mean the fact that he found a magical ring that turns you invisible), Gandalf gives Bilbo “a queer look from under his bushy eyebrows...and the hobbit wondered if he guessed at the part of his tale that he had left out” (The Hobbit, 74). Call it a coincidence, but I find it suspicious how, out of anyone in the world, Gandalf chooses quiet, little Bilbo to accompany the dwarves on their quest. Bilbo then just happens to be the one to find the Ring. I've never heard of a wizard who also happens to be a psychic and a mind-reader on the side. Jesus Christ was not your average man, and it's pretty clear by now that Gandalf is not your average wizard either.

Middle "Earth"

Picture yourself standing inside an enormous palace next to a throne that once belonged to the King of Gondor. Throw in some elves, dwarves, and wizards. You might be lucky enough to spot a few creatures you can’t even identify. The ones with the furry feet are called Hobbits and the giant walking trees are Ents. But don’t worry – they’re all the good guys. It’s the Orcs who you really have to worry about.

Sure wouldn't want to cross paths
with this Orc

This is just a sample of what you’ll find in J.R.R. Tolkien’s world, Middle Earth. Sounds like an exciting escape from reality doesn’t it?

What if I told you that this “magical world” wasn’t so far off from our own? I wouldn't blame you for being skeptical. Tolkien was quoted for saying, "Middle-earth is not an imaginary world.... The theatre of my tale is this earth, the one in which we now live". I thought he was crazy too – and he wrote it! Maybe it's just me, but I've never seen any Hobbits running around here.

The links between our world and Middle Earth may not be obvious, but they do exist.Tolkien wasn't about to leave one of the biggest influences of his life out of it. Born and raised as a Christian by a very devout Mother, religion quickly became a huge part of Tolkien's life. Apparently, it was a huge part of his writing too although he never explicitly says anything about God or religion all throughout the Hobbit or the Lord of The Rings series. I guess you just have to look close enough to find it. Typical author, always trying to make us think.