: I think I'll answer this one, as you agree with me more. Unfortunatly, I think that on this point at least, Micheal is correct. Interesting discussion though, keep it up.

: Thorongil

The real difference between Michael's way of thinking and mine is one of approach. He very much works from within the various texts Tolkien wrote - my approach is to come in from the outside and make comparisons from the text to the external world and then make extrapolations and expansions to fit one with the other. I had a thought that, surprisingly (epecially for an avowed Christian)