Melkor is the saviour of mankind

[Hookbill the Goomba]

An interesting hypothesis.

The 'doom' of men was to leave the world for they were not bound to it. The Silmarillion tells us that their mortality was the gift of Eru (that, in itself is a whole other topic) so it was certainly against their nature to be immortal while in Middle Earth. Weather or not they had an afterlife different to the life of Arda, we know not and can only speculate.

Let us assume, for argument's sake, that there was some kind of afterlife for men after they died in Arda. Logic dictates that this would be something they would be more adapt to, else they wouldn't get it; they can't live indefinitely in Arda because they are not adapt to it. To ask weather or not it would be better for them not to exist or such is a question we cannot answer because we do not know what it would be like to not exist and so have no point of comparison.

Melkor's coming distracted them from this, yes and you could argue that the reaction of the Numenorians was proof that Melkor's distracting them was a good thing. But then one could argue that the other races upon Middle Earth seemed much contented (including the Dwarves, but that is a different subject).

In short... I don't know.

[Macalaure]

Interesting. This might be one more of the cases where Melkor's misdeed played into the hands of Eru in the end.

In the Akallabeth it is said that the Undying Lands don't confer immortality, but that the immortals hallow it. This suggests that, if Aman was not a place Men could abide in without suffering, the world before Aman was made, and where immortals were all over the place, would have the same effect. The world, the way the Valar made it, would be uninhabitable for Men - without the Valar's intention, of course. Then, again without intention, Melkor comes around and drives a good deal of the immortals away, mars here and there, and thus makes the world bearable for the second Children.

But it is intention which counts. Though everybody likes snowflakes, nobody thanks Melkor for them.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

If I continue on Hookbill's thoughts on afterlife, if it was supposed to be something the Men fitted better to, then Melkor certainly did a very awful job to scare them of death. And also, I'd think that for example the Númenoreans who worshiped Melkor (convinced that Eru is a phantom - TP???) would be quite, you know, perplexed after death. But these are just speculations, only random thoughts on that topic.

Which brings me to - hewhoarisesinmight, you are actually saying, I believe, more or less the things that Sauron said to Ar-Pharazon. "His name is Melkor, the Giver of Freedom."
Gandalf would possibly call it "Repeating the lies I always heard only from the mouths of the emissaries of Barad-Dur." I am not saying what you imply here is not true. But it is about twisting (the world often associated with Melkor, Sauron etc.) the point of view: I think it is right to assume that the presence of Valar in ME wouldn't be good for Men, it is the same as if they were in Aman, as Lal said. This was not their "cup of tea". This way, they could thank Melkor for this. But:
1) Don't forget that Melkor was Vala as well (Vala, is that what you said? Then your oath is sworn in vain!)
2) I highly doubt that the Men would have "peaceful life". We saw this at Númenor, and I think if Melkor ruled M-E, it would look similar. For example I highly doubt that most of the people there would like to participate on these human sacrifices (not mentioning that you always need someone to sacrifice).
3) As Lal said, a lot of Knowledge and Art would be lost. Especially for the "elf-lovers" this would certainly be a bad time. Lal, as you said about the hobbits, I'd like the same with for example walks in the forests under starlit skies, singing... but I am somehow afraid that part of the forests might have been burning and part of the stars will be clouded by black smoke from more Thangorodrim-like things. Mmm... also reminds me at the times of Ar-Adunakhor and further, the Elves ceased to come back to the shores of Númenor...
4) Worshiping Melkor for him getting rid of Valar is one thing, but this is the twisting I speak about: we seem to be forgetting that the other Valar had their parts in shaping Arda, and more than Melkor (although he did as well). "And many here worked no less than you." And I consider it important to have in mind that if there was "freedom" (if they'd have any, see #2) for which they could thank Melkor, they'd have to thank the same way Ulmo for water, Manwë for clouds, Yavanna for fruit and trees and vegetables, and so on.
5) And, please, mainly: Whatever Melkor did for Men's "freedom", it was obviously unintentional. So I wouldn't even worship him for it. The Valar created the world intentionally and when they came down to Arda, they knew that they are preparing something for the Children of Ilúvatar. So for these, they'd deserve the praises, for they worked on something for someone else. But Melkor didn't want anything but to get rid of Valar. And had there been

So to sum it up: Yes, perhaps Melkor did a good thing to force Valar out of Middle-Earth. But if any man wanted to worship Melkor, who did this unintentionally, I'd call it fair that he also had to worship - even more - the Valar, who shaped it, and Eru, who gave him life, so Melkor would be on the 16th place at best

[Elmo]

I wondered when someone would bite the bait I'd set - the bit about worshiping Melkor was a joke I'm sorry Legate I'm no emissary of Sauron but one of Aberdeen Football Club I'd probably worship Melkor if he can get Aberdeen to win something this year tho...

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Well, since you posted it seriously - actually I was quite surprised that you posted it in "Books" and not in "Mirth", otherwise it'd be clear - I also replied seriously. (although...) I know that it is possible to meet people who are able to seriously argue that Frodo was Bilbo's son, that Sauron had a spotlight on top of his tower, or that Balrogs have wings, so you have to seriously expose the truths before them...

[Volo]

Melkor should have been allowed to destroy the human race, if it was his intention (Was it?). Eru was just too gready to let go of his Children. The destruction of either Melkor or the human race would have been the greatest gift to Men.

It should be so (from the human perspective) that there is great evil or then there is nothing.

[mormegil]

Originally Posted by Volo

Melkor should have been allowed to destroy the human race, if it was his intention (Was it?). Eru was just too gready to let go of his Children. The destruction of either Melkor or the human race would have been the greatest gift to Men.

It should be so (from the human perspective) that there is great evil or then there is nothing.

Destroying the human race is a gift to men?

[Hookbill the Goomba]

Originally Posted by Volo

Melkor should have been allowed to destroy the human race, if it was his intention (Was it?). Eru was just too gready to let go of his Children. The destruction of either Melkor or the human race would have been the greatest gift to Men.

To answer this, I can only quote C.S. Lewis... Well, I can't find the exact quote (It's from 'The Problem of Pain' if anyone has it). But it went something like this...

"To ask 'wouldn't it have been better not to exsist' is a question we cannot answer. We have no idea what not existing would be like and therefore cannot in any true sense think that none existence would be better than existence."

I tend to agree.

[Elmo]

before this descends (ascends?) into a deep psychological conversation like a couple of my previous topics I'd like to point out I was serious about Melkor helping men just not serious about they should worship them

anyway I just a bit uncomfortable about the fact that men are doomed to suffer. If they go to paradise they suffer if they stay on middle earth they suffer they cannot win

[Volo]

Originally Posted by Hookbill the Goomba

To answer this, I can only quote C.S. Lewis... Well, I can't find the exact quote (It's from 'The Problem of Pain' if anyone has it). But it went something like this...

I tend to agree.

I think that not existing is as simple as not existing, zero.

Not existing is better than grieving, on personal level (Sure you can be of use while grieving.).

Let's put this logically:

If not existing is 0, joy is + and sadness is -, a person who is joyful for +1 and sad for -1,03, he would be "happier" is he didn't exist, for 1+(-1,03) < 0.

And I'm sure that while Morgoth does his evil, people would not be that happy and from their perspective it would be "better" not to exist. So, yes, I think that it would have been indeed a gift to humans if all of them would die. The problem is that Melkor tortured them before giving death, so in fact it would have been nice of the Valar to speed up either the destruction of Melkor or Men.

Sorry, this might have been better in the Akallabeth-topic.

EDIT: Here is a site that might be of some interest.
My post here is pretty radical, but I'm pretty sure that in a world of war, people weren't that happy. Of course the people living during peace were probably happier and actually happy, but not knowing the existance of happines (not existing yourself) would keep you away from wanting to be happy and so you would be rid of all your problems as there would be nothing to make better.