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Originally Posted by tumhalad2
The only reason for my raising this whole point about "god" was that the writer in the original essay asks the question of how Turin can suffer in a universe that supposedly governed by a benevolent god.
I have, along with the essay writer, assumed that Tolkien's Eru possesses characteristics that are ascribed to the Xtian god by most theologians today - that is, omnibenevolence, omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence.
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Omnibenevolence - Eru "wishes well."
Eru created all, even the void. How more benevolent does it have to be? You (a being in ME) exist, and suffering is a part of the cost. To not suffer is to not exist.
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Oh I agree, but given that Tolkien himself claimed that Eru was the Xtian god
(in one of the letters, I'll have to find it) I'm just assuming that it was the theologically understood "philosophical" version.
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You, me and Tolkien may all talk about the Christian God, and even agree about the definition, but again, we are pretending to know what we and each other are talking about.
But I know what you are saying.
Is your question about Turin just a 'Problem of Evil' for Christians?
Turin, to me, was a jerk, and deserved much of the pain he suffered. His family may not have deserved the suffering - especially his sister - but then again, neither did they deserve the benevolence of the elves.