Gwaihir, when Tolkien used the word "slaves" I do not think that he intended it to be so narrow as to limit it to one race. I believe that this term encompasses all the minions of Sauron, of which the chief party was orcs. But this is not the real question at hand. Neither of our theories can be proven or disproven on this matter. Let us consider it a moot point in this debate.
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Yet evil, I believe, is present in Eru as well.
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I concur. How else could Melkor have been so corrupt and malevolent, if the seed were not sown in him somewhere by Illuvatar. And I do agree with you also that almost all or perhaps all of the race of Orcs had an overwhelming tendency towards evil, stemming from their corruption at Melkor's hands. Does this mean they can be classified as
inherently evil, so that they cannot be saved in life and only redeemed in some sort of after-life purgatory, if at all?
I personally believe that Tolkien valued redemption in life and in afterlife, as a devout Catholic.
Redemption from evil deeds is one thing, but from evil being? Christianity teaches us (and I'm sure that Tolkien, being a Catholic, has been taught and influenced by this view) that no one being is entirely good or evil.
I believe that Tolkien did not have no hope for the orcs, although he may have made them out to be gruesome and malevolent, since they were bent to the will of a far greater power. Given his Catholic background I would say he did not condemn orcs in his works to be creatures of an inherent and unfailing banefulness.
This is just an idea, but perhaps it occurred to him that orcs should be cleansed and absolved of their sins after the Final Battle, when the doom of Morgoth was finally full-wrought. I am quite unsure if there is textual evidence for or against this; it is just a thought based on the religious theology that is characteristic of Professor Tolkien.
[ July 30, 2003: Message edited by: Lord of Angmar ]