Predestination in Middle-Earth

[Elfwine]

Ah! My apologies, Iarwain. Typos should burn.

Through these last few posts, I seem to have gotten a rough idea of where this conversation has gone. And I agree with a few of the former comments made; I don't believe Tolkien ever meant for his audience to debate upon such a subject. I think he established Eru as 'the higher power', and nothing else. Perhaps there was some other purpose for the scribblings on this character, but that purpose remains veiled, and I think Tolkien did not mean for us to know the exact and distinct characteristics of this 'god' and the traditions and religions surrounding him. But that's just my opinion - which, by the way, is probably not very valuable, considering the fact that I'm not all that familiar with Tolkien's texts and back texts. Excuse my ignorance. Even so, like I said, I do not believe Tolkien meant for us to discuss anything this deep, or even to know as much as we do. Like any author, he recorded his thoughts and dreams into the wonderful books that have taken us all. But some thoughts and dreams are left unfinished. And though untouched upon, they take nothing away from the story, rich in itself with enough detail to throw off any scholar. Again, just one person's opinion.