John Scott- Tolkien and subcreation

Tolkien writes, “What really happens is that the story-maker proves a successful “sub-creator.” He makes a Secondary World which your mind can enter. Inside it, what he relates is “true”: it accords with the laws of that world.” This concept is extremely powerful and beautiful. God has given us his amazing image and has caused us to be creators with us. This is not by chance but by design. We are always creating and interacting in the Art of God. Tolkien says that when we create story (and in my opinion all art is story as well) we create another Secondary World within the world. We do not move outside but we move inside to a deeper level. We become part of that new world and we invite others to do the same. In that place we invite others to create with us and to be apart of our world, just as God has invited us to do the same. This creation understanding gives us a better understanding of art because art is not something that is arbitrary but is something that is intentionally created and when done so is powerful enough to create a Secondary world. This shows the intensity and importance of art.