Getting started

In this book, and in the rest of the series, we will spend a lot of time studying religions that really exist. But before we do that, we must be sure that we have an initial idea what that word "religion" means. Sometimes people tend to get very excited when one uses real examples of religions to arrive at such an understanding. So let us first cut our teeth on an imaginary example.

Let us suppose that we are faced with the following situation: an archaeological expedition to Siberia has come across the remains of a long-lost civilisation. In a tomb they found a rich hoard of objects: cups and bowls, statues, weapons and a mysterious scroll. The scroll was taken to the Linguistics department of the University of Inner Siberia, and with the help of linguists all over the world and after many hours logged on to a supercomputer in France, they have managed to decipher the words written on the scroll. But while the words may now be available, the meaning is still obscure. You are working in a department of Religious Studies at the University of Central Africa and a linguist friend of yours asks you to take a look, saying, "We think this might be a religious text, but we’re not sure."

"Sure", you say, "send it over." A few days later a package arrives with a translation of the text on the scroll. You open it and start reading:

There was Eru, the One, who is also called Ilúvatar; and he made first the Ainur, the Holy Ones, that were the offspring of his thought, and they were with him before aught else was made. And he spoke to them, propounding to them themes of music; and they sang before him, and he was glad.

And it came to pass that Ilúvatar declared to them a mighty theme, unfolding to them things greater and more wonderful than he had yet revealed. And he said to them: Of the theme that I have declared to you, I now wish you together to make a Great Music.

Never since have the Ainur made music like to this music, though it has been said that a greater still shall be made before Ilúvatar by the choirs of the Ainur and the children of Ilúvatar after the end of days. But as the theme progressed, it came into the heart of Melkor to interweave matters of his own imagining that were not in accord with the theme of Ilúvatar.

In the midst of this strife, the halls of Ilúvatar shook and a tremor ran out into the silences yet unmoved. Ilúvatar arose and his face was terrible to behold. Then Ilúvatar spoke and he said: Mighty are the Ainur, and mightiest among them is Melkor; but that he may know , and all the Ainur, that I am Ilúvatar, those things that ye have sung, I will show them forth, that ye may see what ye have done. And thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite.

Then Ilúvatar arose in splendour, and he went forth from the fair regions that he had made for the Ainur; and they followed him. But when they were come into the Void, Ilúvatar said to them: "Behold your music!" and they saw a new world made visible before them, and they perceived that they themselves in the labour of their music had been busy with the preparation of this dwelling.