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***Gilthalion*** · 03-16-2001, 05:30 AM

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Wight
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Re: Was Saruman evil..

When I think of Saruman at Bag End, the answer is emphatically, yes!

Nothing that is evil was created so.

And the evil of mortals can be forgiven in repentance and redemption (at least in Tolkien's worldview, and mine).

But the evil of eternal creatures is a decision they make that has ramifications beyond the bounds of Time. But once within Time, perhaps they are subject to the same choices as Men. Hence, Gandalf's plea to Saruman to repent, and Saruman's wavering refusal. He chose evil again that day. And never repented of it. Even Sauron is thought to have been genuinely repentant for a time...

(Elves, I think, are immortal creatures, rather than eternal, and thus are more like Men in this regard. They can repent of their evil choices and seek to correct them.)

<center> ~~~http://www.geocities.com/robertwgardner2000My Bare Bones Webpage</a>~~~ </center></p>

03-16-2001, 05:30 AM	#2
*Gilthalion* Hobbitus Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: South Farthing Posts: 635	<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Wight Posts: 174</TD><TD><img src=http://home.att.net/~robertwgardner/lotrmap.gif WIDTH=60 HEIGHT=60></TD></TR></TABLE> Re: Was Saruman evil.. When I think of Saruman at Bag End, the answer is emphatically, yes! Nothing that is evil was created so. And the evil of mortals can be forgiven in repentance and redemption (at least in Tolkien's worldview, and mine). But the evil of eternal creatures is a decision they make that has ramifications beyond the bounds of Time. But once within Time, perhaps they are subject to the same choices as Men. Hence, Gandalf's plea to Saruman to repent, and Saruman's wavering refusal. He chose evil again that day. And never repented of it. Even Sauron is thought to have been genuinely repentant for a time... (Elves, I think, are immortal creatures, rather than eternal, and thus are more like Men in this regard. They can repent of their evil choices and seek to correct them.) <center> *~~~http://www.geocities.com/robertwgardner2000My Bare Bones Webpage</a>~~~* </center></p> __________________ Please read my fan fiction novel THE HOBBITS. Wanna hear me read Tolkien? Gilthalion's Grand Adventures!