[Lord Gothmog]

Kalessin

When you use the letter refering to something being accepted, this does not mean that the view of Eru is automaticaly going to be that of the Christian God. To use this argument is to say that the "Intended or Expected Audience" would be made up of those who had closed minds and Narrow view-points. The choice of Zeus and the Tuatha de Danaan, makes it seem that the only choice allowed is either to be the 'Perfect' good of the traditional Christian God or the exessivness of the most outrageous types of god. There is a middle ground which while allowing for darkness in the Godhead still has that God being a God of Good. This would be acceptable to many Christian peoples in a work of Fantasy, as it does not put Evil into the God only Knowledge of Evil. Many Christians Accept Mythological Deities as they are not required to believe in them, so a slightly less than perfect Godhead in a story can still be acceptable without claiming to be in the Same Position as the Christian God. If Eru was shown as haveing an "Evil" side to him, then no doubt many devout Christians would have trouble with this view. However, there is nothing to show that Eru was in any way "Evil" in fact to have a "Darkness" within and still be "Good" showes that Good is the more powerful side. Therefore that Evil will not triumph.

In reference to your comment about Melkor being the beginner of evil. I do not dispute this, I only dispute where the ability to begin the evil came from. In my view that ability came from Eru. As for the 'varying degrees of dark and light' I find that in my reading of the books, this very thing shows through in the way the various characters are portrayed in the writings. Other than Melkor and Manwe, All the other Valar and Maiar who are given enough space in the story are shown to be well rounded characters with good and bad, otherwise shown as Light and/or Dark in their make-up. This is to be sure only my view of the way they appear. As for "even taking Christianity out of the equation", I have said that Tolkien was using what he concidered to be the Truths Behind Christianity and other Religions and Mythologies. You say that Christianity is an effective model, I say that many Religions can do the same as these Truths lie behind many belief systems.

For your answer to my "What-if" point. I agree that there would not be a story without the fall of Melkor. The reason I used that "What-if" is to show that if Melkor had not been given the chance within the story to "Go alone into the Void" then the Fall might not have happened and there would have been no story, hence my view that Melkor was not evil at the begining but had knowledge of evil. In going away from the rest of the Ainur, he gained the chance to explore this knowledge and to turn to evil by his choices. Thereby also showing that the "Evil" did not come from Eru as it would have done if Melkor had been "Evil by Nature".

Is being the "Greatest" a guarantee of Goodness or of Evilness?

This question was even simpler than you thought. I was refering to Tolkien's work only in that Two beings in the work are described in the Book as "The Greatest in their begining", Melkor Greatest of the Ainur, Feanor Greatest of the Elves. Both fell from their hights. Is it Tolkiens idea that too much greatness will lead to a fall? If this is so, then it too can find acceptance in both oriental and occidental beliefs. In western view, Pride Goeth before a Fall. In Eastern Yin/Yang views, When all is Yin it becomes Yang, when all is Yang it becomes to Yin. Both of these views are entirely compatible with the "Greatest" of both the Ainur and of the Elves turning from the path of Good to Evil ways.
To be of Any religion requires an act of Blind Faith. It is this that defines a follower of a Religion. Other belief systems can be explained from start to finish. In fact taken at face value, The Silmarillion, and to a lesser extent The Lord of the Rings, Has NO RELIGION whatsoever. There is no need for any of the Charaters in the Silmarillion to indulge in an act of Blind Faith as they have met and talked with the Powers of Arda and some of them are still there in Middle-earth in the time of The Lord of the Rings.

akhtene

But don't you find that Melkor is the only one,besides Eru himself, who really makes any choice?Others seem to accept or follow the Maker's Plan, or their given nature; some are led by fate, chosen or doomed.

Many of the Ainur made a choice to follow Melkor.

But he was not alone. for of the Maiar many were drawn to his splendour in the days of his greatness, and remained in that allegiance down into his darkness; and others he corrupted afterwards to his service with lies and treacherous gifts. Dreadful among these spirits were the Valaraukar, the scourges of fire that in Middle-earth were called the Balrogs, demons of terror.
Among those of his servants that have names the greatest was that spirit whom the Eldar called Sauron, of Gorthaur the Cruel.

the Silmarillion: of the Enemies.
The rest Chose to Follow the path of Eru. So All of the Ainur used thair "Free will".