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Helesssart — Eru creating Ainur
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Published: 2014-02-17 20:42:32 +0000 UTC; Views: 11821; Favourites: 391; Downloads: 0
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My entry for a contest in the group: tolkien-voronwe.deviantart.com…"There was Eru, the One, who in Arda is called Iluvatar; and he made first the Ainur, the Holy Ones, that were the offspring of his thought, and they were with him before aught else was made" (www.bestlibrary.net/fantasticf…
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Actually, Illuvatar is Quenya for "Father of All"- it is the name used by the Quendi, or Elves, for Him and generally by beings in Arda.
Illuvatar, perhaps, can be seen as a seperate person, though of the same substance; like the Christian Trinity. However, Eru does not create Illuvatar, He creates all beings, from his own mind, and these beings see and call him the Father of All. The question that is crucial here is this: did the Ainur, and all the other beings, exist prior to Eru thinking them, and did they exist in themselves before Eru; or are they merely elements of Eru himself, and hence not really beings in themselves at all? This is actually one of the most important questions in Philosophy and Theology, during the Christian Era and before. How I see it, all the beings are eternally; but Eru, in his wisdom, eternally sees them and understands them. This Divine Wisdom of Eru is what creates the Ainur, and eventually the Ainulindale; which then promotes the creation of Ea, and all the beings that dwell within.
Actually, as I said, this is one of the principal philosophical, theological and cosmological questions asked. The Western Philosophical Tradition is built on this question.
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Thanks for the insight. I am aware that "Eru does not create Illuvatar". I was originally confused due to a title issue, which has now been corrected by the artist.
As to your discussion, I'm not all that philosophical and I am non-Christian, but this being a fiction, anything is possible, and I accept all possibilities.
In my "religion", there are spirits akin to the Ainur. They are called Orisa, and in my opinion, they are aspects of the Creator Himself. Much of the Silmarillion reminds me of this. It is clear to me that Tolkien had some knowledge of traditional west African spirituality. The only problem I have with the question, is Tolkien's wording, particularly Eru "thinking" the Ainur into "existence". If they do exist as a result of Eru's thought, they are still Eru, but existing, in our understanding, as separate beings/divine spirits. If the Ainur sprang from Eru's thought, though, it makes them no less spiritual beings "in themselves" afterwards. They are, or His thought is, eternal.
Sorry, I haven't the intellect to work it out further.
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Sorry, it was mechanical mistake - He is creating valars. Thank You very much, I'll correct this title.
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Well, look to popular culture. Perhaps, like the Christian mythos, it is like when Yahweh creates Christ. Even though, in the end, Yahweh IS Christ. Or something like that. Every culture has something very similar to that formula.
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Your opinion is very interesting, thank You!
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Just an observation. 
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Very nice indeed. I like the colors and the light.
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