[Raynor]

So although Eru created the Ainur, Ea, and Arda, he virtually left it alone, except for the very beginning, and the very End.

I disagree; :

Originally Posted by Atrabeth Finrod ah Andreth, HoME X

He must as Author always remain 'outside' the Drama, even though that Drama depends on His design and His will for its beginning and continuance, in every detail and moment

[And in the letters, we are told that the cases of Luthien and Tuor are an act of divine intervention; the reincarnation of Gandalf is also an act of Authority, not of the valar; there are countless others refferences made by various characters which hint to divine intervention, but they don't necessarly count as a positive proof of Eru's involvment]

or even shoving Melko through the Door of Night(not that we're told anyway, but since there is so little recorded about direct confrontation with Eru, it should be assumed he did not take a part in it).

But we are told :

Originally Posted by Notes on motives in the Silmarillion,iii, Myths Transformed, HoME X

We read that he was then thrust out into the Void. That should mean that he was put outside Time and Space, outside Eä altogether; but if that were so this would imply a direct intervention of Eru (with or without supplication of the Valar).

Perhaps that is why the Free hold the Valar in high esteem, yet do not mention Eru like they would if they were praying (they would probably pray to Manwe, or the Valar in general).

In Letter #297, Tolkien says that Eru is mentioned in the (unspoken) prayer by those of the Numenoreans.

So to answer the poll, I say No, because I say the Valar (namely Manwe) are the true Lords of Arda, and because of that there is struggle, but if Eru was the main opposition of Melko, Eru could 'remove' him from Ea, or perhaps remove Ea from him!

In Finrod's debate, reffered to above, it is stated that Eru himself will phisically inhabit Ea at one time, exactly to remove Melkor's marring completely and that "the designs of Eru...governed all the operations of the faithful Valar". Moreover, the valar explicitly requested Eru's counsel in the matters of Luthien, the severance of marriage or the reincarnation of the elves.