In this interview, Nick speaks with Andrew Nicewander about experiencing religious abuse and trauma, Tolkien’s own religious trauma, deconstruction, and hope for a better (a)religious future.
Andrew is a depressive castaway loved by his wife and children, who strives to live simply and softly. In real life, he is a seemingly mild-mannered software engineer who nerds out at Imaginative Lore and loves the Wild Wood; but in his heart he's an Ent with a busted hip who wrestles with his Maker. He's a recent graduate from Trinity Anglican Seminary (MAR, 2024) having written a thesis with the paragraphic title of "Shattered Souls and the Re-Enchanting Magic of Myth – The Role that J.R.R. Tolkien and His Projects of Eucatastrophe and Sub-Creation Can Play in the Healing of the Church-Traumatized"
Follow Andrew here:
Substack:
X: https://x.com/Wandering_Gael
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awanderinggael
My book Tolkien and Pop Culture: Volume I is now available! This book is a selection of my Substack posts from the past couple of years, cleaned up, and formatted for publication. For the first time, you can get all these essays in print or in your Kindle library. It’ll look great on your shelf and be available for your own Tolkien purposes! Use the QR code, the link, or direct message me to order your copy: https://a.co/d/eBE7jiH
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