Damned if you do, kablammed if you don't
 

In the tale of Adanel, Eru damned men for eternity with shortened lives for worshiping at the temple of Melkor and ignoring the Voice of Eru. When the temple is first built, Melkor asks the men if anyone still speaks to the voice. Some do but are too afraid to say and they all worship at the temple.

Let's just say some decided to say, 'Hey, Great Demon God of Evil, I enjoy a good chinwag from time to time with that voice you seem to hate so much, hope you don't mind and also be a dear and let me off today's 3 o'clock worship.' By saying this they would proably be doing Eru's will but then Melkor would smite them. So that's all the good members of the human race gone, leaving all the evil ones creating an even worse race then the one we have at the moment. Is that what Eru really wanted?

He gave a choice to the human race, death or evil worship and damnation for eternity. Why would Eru just create a race just for them to have those two choices?

Well...everything is life is actually just making choices, same in Tolkien's creation.
Nobody can predict what would have happened had they disobeyed Melkor, it could be that the sacrifice of the faithful would have impressed the others and moved them to making the same choice.
However, we see these people still were capable to change, since not all Men followed Melkor in the end.
Anyway, the story is if I remember well quite old, and so shouldn't be considered as important as Tolkien's later thoughts on such matters.
And also I remember seeing some quote of Tolkien's, from the letters I believem where he way pointing out that if Men weren't mortals, they would just be something very close to Elves, and there wouldn't be much point in creating them as Secondborn as such.

Do you honestly think that if people started standing up and obeying Eru, he would have left them to Melkor's devices and kablamming? I think not. I don't know what you're referring to in this post, I don't remember any temple worshiping, but if Eru gave the men who worshiped Melkor a punishment, then I believe that if they didn't worship Melkor, there would not be punishment, but a reward. Eru's big enough for Melkor, isn't he?

Can't comment further. As I said, I haven't read what you're referring to.

-- Folwren

Good point there Folwren, which makes me have another idea...
Was this really..."kablamming"?
Death was the Gift of Men, something that, as stated in the Silmarillion, would make the Elves and even the Ainur will envy Men for as time passes.
A life under Melkor's rule on the other hand...isn't that great is it?
So if you ask me, I think that by disobeying Melkor and getting killed Men would actually do themselves a favour.

I believe he is reffering to a text in HoME X.
A very interesting point is found in this text too:
It wasn't just these two choices since, as pointed previously, many (though not all) that wanted managed to escape. However, there is a considerable amount of salt to be taken with this story, considering that Men thought they should have been immortal, and also because Melkor appears in a fair form - of which he was not capable anymore after his evading from Valinor

Yes Raynor, that's the quote I was talking about, wasn't sure where I had seen it though. ;)

We know that had anyone stood up to Melkor and refused to worship him then they'd get their 'gift' of Death and all that. That's a given, surely. But I think that what hewhoarisesinmight (hewhohasalongscreennametotype ;)) is saying is that if everyone did that, then there would be no good guys left at all to 'resist' anyway! It's a good point to make about the very practical matter of mankind simply surviving.

I hope Folwren is right and that Eru would step in and save some of the men before they all got wiped out! :eek:

I agree
Although this is stated in relation to estel, it is consistent with the depiction of Eru.

Has anyone figured yet the purpose of the merisu smilie?:D

I don't really understand your point, Melkor smiting the children will not deprive Eru of them, they will in fact be closer to him (apparently)

I believe your tongue is firmly placed in your cheek ;). Eru had far greater plans with the Children than to allow this species to be crushed
Some of the reasons of creating the Men is for them to bring their part to Creation, to inherit Arda, and that their deeds should redound to the glory of Eru.

As is mentionied in this thread, it doesn't seem to be Eru's style to step in and protect men. (to smite them on the other hand... ;)) If he wouldn't step into his creation and protect men from Sauron why would he protect them from Melkor in this case?

Matters of style can be debated endlessly, however, even if we don't see burning bushes and the likes, the hand of Eru is ever present, esspecially since everything depends on him (cf Silmarillion & Athrabeth).