I think its clear that Tolkien did not distinguish between Eru & God. The fact that he translated the prayers that were most significant to him into his own languages (Our Father, Ave Maria, Litany of Loreto, etc) points towards this, & many of the comments he makes in the notes to the Athrabeth confirm it.
Nevertheless, Eru is a character in the Legendarium, so its valid to question how close Eru is to God. Tolkien's own theology was perhaps slightly 'idiosyncratic' - or at least had a strongly 19th century feel to it, which many modern Christians may not agree with entirely.
The problem with the way the poll is phrased is that it doesn't distnguish as to whether we are being asked what Tolkien intended or what out own opinion is. What Tolkien intended is not open to opinion - he intended what he intended & nothing else. What
we feel is
nothing but personal opinion & I don't see what we gain in terms of our knowledge of Tolkien's creation by stating our personal beliefs.
EDIT
As we know, the languages came first & the stories were created to provide a setting for them. Therefore the languages have primacy. If Tolkien translated various Christian prayers into Elvish are they part of the Legendarium? Was this an attempt by Tolkien to integrate his Christianity into his mythology? I don't think we can dismiss what he did as merely an accademic exercise (translating primary world texts into Elvish) because of the value & significance those particular prayers had for him: (I've bolded the ones he translated).
Quote:
Letter 54
'If you don't do so already, make a habit of the praises'. I use them much in (Latin): the Gloria Patri, the Gloria in Excelsis, the Laudate Dominum; the Laudate Pueri Dominum (of which I am especially fond); one of the Sunday psalms; & the Magnificat; also the Litany of Loreto (with the prayer Sub tuum praesidium) if you have these by heart you never need words of joy.'
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