What happened at Mount Doom?

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by davem

The problem with A is that it is too 'coincidental'. It reduces the end of Sauron to a fluke. For an 'accident' to save the whole world from disaster seems beyond belief. There must have been a purpose behind it, or it kind of makes all the struggles up to that point 'pointless'.

The problem with B is that it makes Eru a murderer.

Ah, but Sauron was NOT killed, merely reduced to an impotent spirit. Therefore, to call Eru a murderer is not necessarily incorrect.

Of course, there is the whole issue that there is no reason why Gollum's slip can't both be a completely natural slip AND a fulfillment of the Divine Will...