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Originally Posted by davem
Is M-e monotheistic or polytheistic? It can't be both. the simple answer is that it is monotheistic - except Eru doesn't do very much after Ainulindule, & the world is effectively ruled by the Valar. So for 99% of the Sil we have a polytheistic world.
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Yes, M-E is monotheistic. But it is incorrect that Eru "doesn't do very much after Ainulindale". A transcendant deity, by definition, upholds the entirety of the creation 'It' has made; keeps it running, as it were. I have already addressed the issue of "polytheistic" by pointing out how this polytheocracy is unlike the typical ancient mythological polytheocracies.
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Originally Posted by davem
Even in the destruction of Numenor he is not necessary - the Valar could have destroyed the Numenorean fleet.
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One would expect a good reader, having had this insight, to ask the next obvious question:
"Then why does Tolkien have Eru there at all?" If Tolkien had no reason, then he cannot have been much of a writer. Since we do not accept such a conclusion, the question deserves an answer. So, "What, in Tolkien's legendarium, is Eru there for?" Why does Eru do the deed when the Valar could have done it (if they could have)? The key is in that the Valar lay down their authority. Why do they do this? Because the violators of the Ban are the Second Children of Iluvatar. In other words, the Valar recognize and acknowledge that they
do not have final authority regarding the Second Children of Iluvatar breaking the Ban. Thus they must lay down their authority.
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Originally Posted by davem
In short, we don't need Eru as part of the story.
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On the contrary. We do very much need Eru as part of the story, precisely because he has final authority over the Children of Iluvatar. The Children of Iluvatar are themselves, as a matter of fact, proof of the fundamental necessity of Eru to the plot of the entire legendarium. They are called by his own name.
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Originally Posted by davem
Eru is a character who Tolkien attempts to make use of, & he is never more than a plot device. He can't be used without devastating effect, so he is hardly used at all & when he is used he replaces the Valar.
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No. Quite simply, no. This misunderstands the nature of Eru. Eru is a constant part of the entire legendarium,
behind the scenes (most of the time). If there were no transcendant deity, the entire legendarium would not adhere the way it does. This is fundamental.
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Originally Posted by davem
What he does display is pride, lack of compassion & brute force.
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If this is the extent of one's understanding of Eru as the character functions in the legendarium, then this character is fundamentally misunderstood.