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Originally posted by Kuruharan:
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...their limited understanding of the inhabitants of Ea is because they were the Theme of Iluvatar alone. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]</STRONG>
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Exactly. It was going to take the entire history of Ea for the Ainur to fully understand the wisdom of Iluvatar.
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<STRONG>However, their lack of understanding of Melkor is a tremendous problem...In order to successfully defeat an enemy you need to understand them...the Valar seemed unable (or unwilling) to strike a decisive blow. When they did eventually defeat him the Valar had him penned up, but then turned him loose. Big mistake.</STRONG>
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I think unwilling is closer. The Ainur exhibited mercy. Being Good, they risked trusting Melkor. That he was deceitful is not the fault of the Valar.
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...None of this is intended to say that anyone in their position would have done any better...Or, if you're a free-willer (I tend to be) it was this way because ultimately the glory of the whole Music would be greater at The End. Or maybe a combination of the two. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]</STRONG>
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I'm a combination fo the two kind of guy. Paradox. I guess I'd just add that Good must either experience the pain of Evil or become evil in order to understand it. And even then all their deeds were tempered with mercy.