[littlemanpoet]

Originally Posted by alatar

My point is that Arda has a Boss/King/Viceregent/CEO/etc. Does the Christian world have the same? And doesn't the Bible state who the prince of this world is?

My understanding is that Lucifer was appointed as Viceregent/Archangel of Earth; thus, his rebellion left Earth in darkness, and thus the need for the kinds of intervention described throughout the Bible.

And to go off on another tangent: In Arda, we have the drowning of Númenor - the Gift taken back. I used to think of this event as a shadow for the Noachian Flood, but more detailed analysis would show that these two events aren't very similar.

Right. I don't see them as similar either. The Numenor saga is more akin to the Atlantis myth, which Tolkien was trying to "correct" as received from traditional myths.

Is Eru a less stern/punishing God?

I see little difference, and see Eru as more involved, as I've explained earlier in this thread, than others seem to believe.

My right clicker isn't working so I can't bring up a quote from a different post. Anyway, davem, Eru is revealed to the people of Middle Earth to a much lesser extent than Yahweh is to us. Nevertheless, the likeness is quite evident to me. In either case, I see a Deity that is not merely a creator, certainly not instinctive as you seem to suggest. Even his creative activity is within the context of his love.

Yes, Helen, wants to. He wants relationship with us puny little bits of self-aware matter. He wants us to last forever, and not merely last but enJoy him forever. Omniscience seems to fit okay with that.