'Which is as Fate to all Things Else’

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

Who thought it up?

I went with the first and the second choices. My post will come later--it's quite a long one. Rest assured, though, I shall abandon all pretensions to making another flawed analogy (qq.v.), as H-I and SoN properly pointed out.

This time, I shall use quotes, nice ones, and lots of them.

EDIT: First, I'd like to address some things said so far.

What the Ainur 'played' was certainly what Eru wanted, and was part of his Theme, but maybe it wasn't all of his Theme. (Gurthang)

It is said somewhere in the letter given in the foreword to QS 77/01 (sorry, I brought only HoME I and IV with me) that even if all the music of the pantheon were combined, it would not equal the entire thought of Eru, or something like that. That's where the Third Theme (i.e., the Children of Ilúvatar) comes in.

(When I post again maybe I'll place the exact quote.)

This would mean that the actions of Men are predestined by Iluvatar, but were not a part of the Music played by the Ainur. (Gurthang)

Hmmm, let's try not to confuse predestination with the creator's omniscience, okay? That's what got me into some trouble in the first place.

After all, were Adam and Eve aware of what the consequence of the choice was, other than simply disobeying the injunction? I mean, they couldn't have known what the difference meant--having not eaten the fruit--before they ate the fruit. Right? (Bb)

Adding to what Gurthang said about obedience, it also involves Adam and Eve's choice to continue trusting in God, despite however silly it appears (cf. the Ban, which, when Ar-Pharazôn ( ) broke, had grievous consequences.)