Melkor is the saviour of mankind

[mormegil]

That's a rather huge assumption to assume that all people suffered more than they found joy during their existance. Again we don't know what happens to men in Tolkien's world after death. Also, even during war, people find joy. Peace does not equal happiness nor does war equal unhappiness necessarily. Granted people tend to be happier if there is peace but your statement is far too broad. Many of the men enjoyed war and found great honor and joy in war itself.

[ninja91]

I cannot argue with your point, hewhoarisesinmight. But worshiping Melkor seems...similar to worshiping Satan.

[Thenamir]

Originally Posted by Legate

So to sum it up: Yes, perhaps Melkor did a good thing to force Valar out of Middle-Earth. But if any man wanted to worship Melkor, who did this unintentionally, I'd call it fair that he also had to worship - even more - the Valar, who shaped it, and Eru, who gave him life, so Melkor would be on the 16th place at best

Originally Posted by AINULINDALË

as the theme progressed, it came into the heart of Melkor to interweave matters of his own imagining that were not in accord with the theme of Ilúvatar, for he sought therein to increase the power and glory of the part assigned to himself...and it seemed at last that there were two musics progressing at one time before the seat of Ilúvatar, and they were utterly at variance. The one was deep and wide and beautiful...The other had now achieved a unity of its own; but it was loud, and vain, and endlessly repeated; and it had little harmony, but rather a clamorous unison as of many trumpets braying upon a few notes. And it essayed to drown the other music by the violence of its voice, but it seemed that its most triumphant notes were taken by the other and woven into its own solemn pattern...

...thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined.'

If Melkor ended up doing something good, it was only because Eru is capable of incorporating the intention of evil (evil in this case being anything not in accord with the theme of Ilúvatar) but rather the ability of an omnipotent being to foresee and incorporate the volition of evil and make of it a greater good. (In the real world, we refer to this as Providence. ) Therefore, Melkor is not to be worshiped for his selfishness, but Eru for his foresight.