Alrighty then. I’ve been eyeing this thread for a while but haven’t had a chance to post until now. So, here we go…
Well, the Yin Yang principle does change things a bit. In fact, in my opinion, it can not be applicable to ME in its entirety. The fight between good and evil is one of the main premises in ME. Another main premise in ME is that of a completely good God. Both those principles go against Yin Yang as you have defined it, Kaiserin.
First let me explain why Illuvatar is a completely good God. And perhaps someone who knows more of Tolkien’s letters could find where he speaks on the subject and what he has to say. But until then, let me offer up a few things. First, Illuvatar does only good things. We are never told that Illuvatar has committed evil. Also, Melkor rebelled from Eru. If Eru was also evil, or even a little bit evil, it couldn’t be said that Melkor rebelled but just that he was extra passionate within certain aspects (i.e. evil ones) of the will of Eru. And if evil existed within Eru, than it would not be evil. Good is defined as the character of God, and evil is defined as rebellion from the character of God. I doubt all of you believe in God and thus would disagree with that definition, but for this discussion’s sake, we are discussing ME which irrefutably has a God. The existence of a God automatically defines that the character of that God is what is considered good because that God is omnipotent and the creator. He is the ultimate standard to all other things. His character is good. Rebellion from his character is evil. Finally, as I mentioned before, the struggle between good and evil is one of the main themes throughout ME. Good and evil aren’t just competing forces independent of God. And God can not be struggling against himself. That is ridiculous and a contradiction. Evil could not be bad if it were part of Eru. And Eru would not be God if he experienced inner turmoil and struggles for supremacy within Himself. But since there is such a struggle between good and evil, we must conclude that the struggle is between Eru and those who seek to follow him (good) and those who have rebelled from Eru (evil).
One more thing, which is more speculation than reason, is that Tolkien, as a Christian, would model Eru after the Christian God. Yes, we all know LOTR isn’t allegory. But as a Christian, Tolkien would find the idea of creating a God who was not in tune with the God he believed in repugnant and even heresy. Also, Tolkien even stated in one of his letters that Christianity crept into his original work unintentionally (authors write what they believe to be true) and that he consciously added Christianity in his revision of his works. Again, this is not allegory. He did not intend everyone to read the book and automatically realize and accept that Eru was the Christian God. But he modeled Eru and Middle Earth on what he believed to be true (which would be Christianity).
Just as a sidenote, I’d have to disagree here.
Quote:
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Therefore that man is called 'good' because he's not going to get any better, is he? And this man would be called good presumably because he can master this grain of evil within him.
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Since good is defined as the character of God, a person can not “dumb down” God’s character and lower the standard for himself. He will never be completely good because he is not God nor is he perfect. So he can not call himself good just because he can not attain complete goodness. And if he was able to master than “one grain,” then he would be good because there would be no evil in him. But he would not be able to master it since he is imperfect.
Anyway, good topic.