[Overtaxed]

As near as I can tell it started around post 5230:

except Elves are a step closer to us than angels are.

It sounded to me Elves were being put above Men and below angels. At least non-fallen angels have no sin whereas Men have sin and are fallen. Where does that leave Elves if they are between Men and angels? Either you sin or you don't. I was trying to use Letters 181 to illustrate that Elves are fallen ...or have sin...too so are on the same level as Men.

[Corin Stormhands]

It sounded to me Elves were being put above Men and below angels.

Did I fall asleep and wake-up again on that forum?

I am sooooo confused....

[JenB]

Well, that was just me being hyperbolic. Sure, Elves aren't angelic - they aren't sinless, nor quite as terrible and wonderful. But don't you feel that these days, if we were to meet a real Elf, he'd have to say, "Do not be afraid"?

Elves, like angels, are beautiful and terrible and more noble than we are. Elves are still flawed, and unlike angels, they are Children of Iluvatar, like Men. But they are the Firstborn and we are the Followers. I bet they're much better older siblings than I am....

[Penny1]

OT, I don't think you can fit Elves into a strictly Christian theological pigeon-hole. Tolkien was Catholic, but he was also fully aware that he was writing fantasy/mythology. It's as if he wanted to explore a type of being that is neither angel nor man, but somewhere in between with characteristics of both.