Quite right. And the Lost Tales's chief interest, for me, is in fact the earlier (and truly more vivid) concepton of the Valar that I find hugely delighting.
Illuvatar is vastly different to any of the Greek or Roman deities though, I would have thought. He is very much a representation of our own God more than anything; in the full complexity of everything. I feel Tolkien's mythologies to give quite an insight into God as well, through this -- something I'm planning writing an essay on, actually, in the fullness of time (whenever that may be).
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