[Nils]

Nils, that quote of yours is a funny one. It is plain to see that individual Orcs did in fact have their own minds and selfishnesses, and it would really be hard to believe that they did not, and were merely talking creatures (any creature that talks surely has an intelligence at least akin to Man's).

You don't believe that animals have their own minds and selfishnesses?

You know, Nils, we don't have to take every comment that Tolkien said as the ruling word on his work.

I agree with you. The problem with the Silmarillion is that it was never published by JRR. Why should what it says over ride any other work published by his son? All I have done is agreed with Sharku about Tolkien's later writings.

The question isn't 'every comment that Tolkien said', the question is which comment that Tolkien made.

Obviously his word generally has a lot more importance that the word of another observer, but still, when he says certain things he is sort of acting as an observer himself.

I couldn't disagree more. This is Tolkien's world. When we discuss Tolkien's world, we need to keep as close to Tolkien's view of it as possible. When it comes to our own views of Tolkien's world, then we can make Tolkien an equal observer all we want.

The one about evilness in the body rather than the soul, is, I think, an idea of Tolkien's rather than a concrete ideal of his writings.

I believe the important word here is 'inherent'. Souls can be evil (rebel against Eru's plan), but they are not inherently evil.