...treading on toes, it's the perception on my part, based on your remarks,
that your opinion is set, and you are going to continue to defend it regardless
of arguments in an opposing position. As I detest that kind of entrenched
debate, I prefer to concede your position, and by no means surrender my
own. We have both thought out our reasons for believing what we do as we
do, and after those positions have been presented for one another's
edification, I see no particular reason to try to "win" the debate. I
could, for instance, point out that LotR being a Catholic work at heart by
Tolkien's admission, one must take into consideration the Catholic positions on
the matter of sins and their attendant punishments, but I had enough of that
kind of Catholic indoctrination as a child, and really would rather not get
into such dogmatic issues so specifically. Kinda spoils my enjoyment of
the books and their essentially more simple approach toward good and
evil. So I would much rather agree to disagree rather than drag up old
baggage, even if it is pertinent. Not offended at all, just setting my
particular role in the debate to
rest.
