Thread: Inherent Evil
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Old 08-05-2003, 11:25 AM   #93
Lord of Angmar
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Maybe we disagree about the nature of evil itself, in which case we are going to have to agree to disagree. In the above quote, Gwaihir seems to be saying they are of the substance of evil. It is part of what makes them. In my opinion evil is not a thing or substance, it is making a choice to do that which is against the will of Eru.
The orcs, however, did not make a conscious choice to be corrupted. They had no say in whether or not they went against the designs of Iluvatar, because they were enslaved, fëa and hroa, to Morgoth. Since orcs are inherently against the design of Iluvatar (he did not want them to be, and it states in the Silmarillion that the corruption of the orcs was the "most hateful [deed] to Iluvatar"), then they are inherently evil.

Just because they are inherently inclined towards evil deeds, this does not mean they cannot be redeemed. In Catholic belief (and thusly in Tolkien's belief), all sinners can be purged and absolved of their sins. This redemption would probably take place in the afterlife, since there would be a more powerful medium for absolution.

I believe that it is within the nature of the orkish fëa to do bad deeds, since their very existence is evil in the eyes of Iluvatar, and since they have so often been enslaved to the wills of other 'fallen' beings. Just because something is in someone's nature, however, does not mean their actions and thoughts cannot be altered or changed and their lives and fëar redeemed.
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