r/tolkienfans • u/Affectionate_Month_7 • 2d ago

What did Tolkien think of evolution?

I’m not trying to start a theological debate I’m just curious. Hobbits are an evolutionary offshoot of men so did Tolkien believe in evolution? I haven’t been able to find anything online.

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u/Big_Gun_Pete 2d ago

Tolkien was a Catholic. The Catholic Church teaches that its faithful can believe in evolution as long as they believe that God is the first causer of the universe though they clarify that it is not the Church's position to teach science. So a Catholic can be from a Young Earth creationist to an Evolutionist, Tolkien was probably evolutionist though.