^^That’s the attitude that a lot of us non-believers find upsetting. The idea that morality solely comes from God and Jesus, and anybody who doesn’t follow them is not a good person. Religion is one path to morality, but it is not the only one. Their are so many other religions filled with good people.

^I think he is part of the minority...as a Christian myself, I do not agree with this statement. I hope you and anybody else who reads this comment won't judge my religion based upon a minority.

Don’t worry. I try not to judge groups based on individuals.

Yeah, I don't know what Guy who types stuff is trying to say, but his somewhat flawed doctrine doesn't represent Christian thought.

In an attempt to get the thread back on track, this is basically a question of whether you would side with tyranny or not. Pretty clear answer.

^ I said Godzillavkk is a good person, did you read what I said? You can be a good person without being Christian, but atheism is bad for the soul.

I am atheist, and my soul feels fine.

Back on track, I don’t think it is as simple as choosing between tyranny and freedom. I think it is a matter of choosing between the tyranny of men and the tyranny or the Valar. You’re stuck following a tyrant either way.

What makes you think the Valar are tyrants? That certainly wasn't how Tolkien saw it.

The Valar made laws without consulting the people who were affected by them. Things like forbidding men from sailing west may have been in the best interests of men, but men should have a say in the kaws that govern them. Then, when the men violated a single rule, the Valar committed genocide.

You're viewing the gods as if they're a form of human government. That's not the way Tolkien's universe works.

It doesn’t matter if they’re a government or gods. They’re the ones making the rules. When unelected officials, be they gods or men, decide what rules everyone else has to follow without any checks on their power, then that is tyranny. No being has the right to subjugate another, no matter how powerful they are.