Es gibt bei reddit einige threads zur Religion in Middle-Earth, wo berufenere Leute als ich es bin
darüber sprechen. Hier mal ein paar Zitate dazu:
There is an in-universe reason for the apparent lack of religion in the Third Age as seen in LotR. Its all tied up in the dominant cultural influence of the time - Post-Akalabeth Numenorean culture.
There was monotheistic Eru worship in Numenor, but after the destruction of the holy mountain in the Akakabeth, worship ceased, as it was strongly tied to that physical location. Due to that and the suspicion of religion following the deception of Numenor by Sauron (who perverted Numenorean practices into Morgoth focused human sacrifices), the successor Kingdoms and those they influenced (pretty much everyone in NW Middle-earth) avoided worship.
Elves did not worship Eru, instead leaving this to the Valar who were in direct contact with Him.
From Tolkien's Letter 165 of 1955 to his publisher:
The only criticism that annoyed me [about LotR] was one that it 'contained no religion' (and 'no Women', but that does not matter, and is not true anyway). It is a monotheistic world of 'natural theology'. The odd fact that there are no churches, temples, or religious rites and ceremonies, is simply part of the historical climate depicted.
Letter 153:
There are thus no temples or 'churches' or fanes in this 'world' among 'good' peoples. They had little or no 'religion'in the sense of worship. For help they may call on a Vala(as Elbereth), as a Catholic might on a Saint, though no doubt knowing in theory as well as he that the power of the Vala was limited and derivative. But this is a 'primitive age': and these folk may be said to view the Valar as children view their parents or immediate adult superiors, and though they know they are subjects of the King he does not live in their country nor have there any dwelling. I do not think Hobbits practised any form of worship or prayer (unless through exceptional contact with Elves). The Númenóreans (and others of that branch of Humanity, that fought against Morgoth, even if they elected to remain in Middle-earth and did not go to Númenor: such as the Rohirrim) were pure monotheists. But there was no temple in Númenor (until Sauron introduced the cult of Morgoth). The top of the Mountain, the Meneltarma or Pillar of Heaven, was dedicated to Eru, the One, and there at any time privately, and at certain times publicly, God was invoked, praised, and adored: an imitation of the Valar and the Mountain of Aman. But Numenor fell and was destroyed and the Mountain engulfed, and there was no substitute. Among the exiles, remnants of the Faithful who had not adopted the false religion nor taken part in the rebellion, religion as divine worship (though perhaps not as philosophy and metaphysics) seems to have played a small part; though a glimpse of it is caught in Faramir's remark on 'grace at meat'. Faramir's Grace is an exception - we see him salute the West before dinner.
Die Bewohner von Mittelerde sind für gewöhnlich gut oder böse. Die Guten haben es nicht wirklich nötig
religiöse Riten auszuüben, da sie sich der Gunst Erus im Prinzip sicher sein können und die Bösen sind eh
schon verloren. Ja, es gibt grauschattierte Charaktere, aber die ändern nichts am Gesamtkonzept.
Außerdem ist Religion eher so etwas wie Privatsache, also jeder ist quasi sein eigener Priester und kann
Zwiesprache mit den Valar halten bzw. sie um ihre Gunst bitten.
Und schließlich, was sollten Unsterbliche wie die Elben groß mit Religion am Hut haben? Es gibt für sie ja
nicht wirklich so etwas wie ein göttliches Mysterium.
reddit link - wo noch mehr dazu steht
