From: private@gmx.liechtenstein   
      
   On Tue, 27 Dec 2016 09:59:49 -0800, Paul S. Person   
    wrote:   
      
   >But, IIRC, he /did/ replace the /real/ dome on which the stars were   
   >hung with our universe -- but with Middle Earth covered with a special   
   >canopy on which the stars visible to it were hung.   
   >   
   >He was also planning to clean up the theology a bit, but I don't think   
   >he got very far with that either. In fact, I don't think the   
   >theological problems he saw (or which were called to his attention by   
   >others) were ever specified.   
   >   
   >Presumably, they included the Eru-Manwe-Melchor tinge of (what I am   
   >going to refer to as) Manicheeism.   
      
      
   Do you think the intended changes were symptoms of moving towards a more overt   
   allegory of modern christianity? Melkor's rebellion in the song of creation   
   and the recycling of this corruption in Arda were subject to Eru's plan -   
   mirroring the pride of Lucifer and the consequent downfall.   
      
   On the otherhand, reducing everything to a primal interplay between light and   
   dark, or the Secret Fire and the Void, would be interesting take on the story.   
   Rather than manichean, I would prefer a taoist interpretation of this duality   
   - with Eru being remote and impartial to the events in middle-earth. Come to   
   think of it, Tom Bombadil's oneness with nature or the 'way/dao' would explain   
   a few things... at least in my rambling thoughts.   
      
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    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)