LOTR isn't Christian fantasy-discuss

I’ve been interested in Thomas’ thoughts on the very difficult genre that is Christian fantasy as a Christian writing fantasy, and the fact that so many writers in the genre (or maybe he would argue who want to be published in the genre) are critical of other authors. In pondering why this may be, in struck me that LOTR, which I previously assumed was the progenitor of the genre, and perhaps in a certain sense other fantasy genres as well, is NOT in fact Christian fantasy, in terms of its genre.

I would be interested in your thoughts, especially if you are a Christian and/or a Christian writing fantasy. Is LOTR in the genre of Christian fantasy?

Another question perhaps worth asking, is what do you feel is a fantasy book that has come the closest to capturing LOTR’s moral/classical vision and depth ? [Not so interested in the world-building depth, which I think is a different topic]