[Thenamir]

As I have voted, I see now that it is incumbent upon me to defend that vote. And as most of you know I have never been able to shy away from a debate that has a hint of religion in it. :P

Although I find Estelyn’s points well made, I must politely disagree with her conclusion. I have always thought of the God of Middle-Earth as being a reasonable representation of the God Who Is. I base most of that thought on the words of Eru at the beginning of The Silmarillion, where He states (in my own paraphrase) that He is the ultimate Author of the Theme and the Music whence Ea sprang, and that none could alter that music in despite of Him – that those who attempt to do so will only find themselves the instruments of Eru in creating yet greater things which the errant creature had not intended.

Additionally, I do not find the presence of Eru in Arda to be so far off as some describe. It is apparent that the hand of the Creator in Middle Earth, as in our real world, is ever-present and guiding events so that good eventually triumphs over evil, even though we may not see that Hand except in retrospect. I find it in the statement of Gandalf (himself an emissary) to Bilbo at the end of The Hobbit that his adventures were not solely for his benefit, that he is only a small hobbit in a very large world. I find it in the existence of predictive prophecy in some places (e.g. Malbeth the seer, Galadriel, others). I find it in the use of a good-hearted but weakened Frodo and a deranged and self-consumed Gollum in combination to be the destruction of the great evil of their day. It all sounds so, if you will, like God, like something He would arrange.

Just as in our real world we do not see overt and obvious miracles taking place everywhere, so it is in Middle-Earth -- even the wizard Gandalf seems to rely mostly on his great wisdom and not on supernatural power. In both worlds the Power that rules over creation uses people, imperfect, unlikely people, to accomplish His ends. Though He is not oft mentioned in Middle Earth, perhaps it is because all consciously or unconsciously recognize His presence and His working – it is understood by all and therefore there is no need to make constant reference to it, like the air we breathe – it’s a given. Though there are those like Melkor/Morgoth or Lucifer/Satan who attempt to overthrow or thwart His purposes, it is in both worlds a vain effort.

Though my post is not as scholarly as some, it is my opinion, and having held that opinion has increased my enjoyment of LOTR immensely. I may not change any minds – it is, after all, one small voice, and one man’s opinion