LotR -- Book 6 - Chapter 3 - Mount Doom

[davem]

Originally Posted by Fordim

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...

Eru could be said to be the indirect cause of Death in Middle-earth, but with Gollum (& the Numenoreans) He is the direct cause of their individual deaths - He makes them die when they wouldn't have died otherwise.