Thy Will vs. My Will: The Battle Between Art and the Machine in Middle-Earth

Prayer is about: “Thy will be done”; technology is about: “My will be done.”

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After the Company received miraculous gifts from the Elves of Lothlórien — lembas bread, ropes made of hithlain, superlight boats, and “magic” cloaks — Pippin asked:

‘Are these magic cloaks?’ asked Pippin, looking at them with wonder.

‘I do not know what you mean by that,’ answered the leader of the Elves. ‘They are fair garments, and the w…