LotR -- Book 6 - Chapter 3 - Mount Doom

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

I just feel the need to interject a bit of common sense at this point:

If Eru is God, or even God-like, or even Tolkien's version of God -- then isn't this whole debate over Gollum's death a bit, well, pointless? I mean, if God's in charge of the world, then everyone's death is part of His Plan, or his 'fault' in some way...

It's the same tired question that people have been asking their beleagured priests for centuries, to which they usually get a resigned "mysterious ways" response....

As soon as you decide to start questioning the ethical disposition of Gollum's death (at the 'hands' of Providence, Eru, God, whatever) don't you have to start questioning Denethor's death, Boromir's death, Saruman's death, Lotho's death and on and on and on...