10 Commandments for Middle-Earth?

[Legolas]

Tolkien, as creator, seems to deny Finrod's request though. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] [Italics added by moi.]

There is no 'embodiment' of the Creator anywhere in this story or mythology. Gandalf is a 'created' person; though possibly a spirit that existed before in the physical world. His function as a 'wizard' is an angelos or messenger from the Valar or Rulers: to assist the rational creatures of Middle-earth to resist Sauron, a power too great for them unaided.
[...]
Thus Gandalf faced and suffered death; and came back or was sent back, as he says, with enhanced power. But though one may be in this reminded of the Gospels, it is not really the same thing at all. The Incarnation of God is an infinitely greater thing than anything I would dare to write. Here I am only concerned with Death as part of the nature, physical and spiritual, of Man, and with Hope without guarantees.

Of course, by the quote above, you could say (from a technical standpoint) that Tolkien still could suppose the incarnation to eventually take place without writing it into the story.

[ March 05, 2003: Message edited by: Legolas ]