[Raynor]

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

However, that spirit is, as unbodied, unable to have any effect upon material things, both living and unliving, other than by influence of thought.

In the Sil it is stated:

Originally Posted by Of the Sun and Moon and the hiding of Valinor, Silmarillion

It is told that after the flight of Melkor the Valar sat long unmoved upon their thrones in the Ring of Doom; but they were not idle, as Feanor declared in the folly of his heart. For the Valar may work many things with thought rather than with hands, and without voices in silence they may hold council one with another.

Now, considering other evidences already given, it is safe to say that they could such influences even if they didn't have their hroar (perhaps even better). Also, concerning Olorin:

Originally Posted by Of the maiar, Valaquenta, Silmarillion

But of Olorin that tale does not speak; for though he loved the Elves, he walked among them unseen, or in form as one of them, and they did not know whence came the fair visions or the promptings of wisdom that he put into their hearts.

So, even Olorin, 'just' a Maia, is able to do certain actions apparently without a body. In the letters, Sauron was able to carry his ring with him from the sinking of Numenor all the way to Middle Earth, while being disembodied.

Originally Posted by lmp

However, Sauron does both in the making of the Ring. He sub-creates in order to possess and control

I would say that the correct term would be "Machine" instead of subcreation, as a term indicating Power/Magic as opposed to Art, which is a reflection of Eru's will.

Originally Posted by Lal

The only concept that Elves have of Hell is that they remain in the Halls of Mandos

Err, I certainly doubt that the halls of Mandos would ever come close to the Hells of Iron - Angband, which many of the elves would have experiened long before the halls of Mandos. Not to mention that in Mandos, Nienna brings pity, endurance, hope, strength and wisdom, cf Of the Valar.