the religion of Sauron vs religion of Morgoth

[afro-elf]

The questions I have are in the second post

INTRO
Excursus: The Religion of the Haradrim Fromhttp://205.200.64.249/gc/scrolls/2003/feb/rethinkingumbar.html

That the Haradrim, like all "Men of Darkness," worshipped Sauron is stated in "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age." During the mid-Second Age,

. To them Sauron was both king and god; and they feared him exceedingly, for he surrounded his abode with fire. (Sil.289-290; cf. HoMe XII.305)

In a marginal note to a letter composed in response to W.H. Auden's review of LotR, Tolkien clarifies the nature of Sauron's claim to divinity: "By the end of the Second Age he assumed the position of Morgoth's representative. By the end of the Third Age (though actually much weaker than before) he claimed to be Morgoth returned (Letters.243)." This theological shift was not a complete innovation, since Men had originally worshipped Morgoth (Sil.259; HoMe X.345-349).

There is a difference, however, between the orientation of the Númenórean cult of Melkor and the primordial worship of the Dark. The former was precipitated by a factor distinctive to the Dúnadan psyche: the desire for immortality. ...By contrast, the primordial worship of Morgoth was premised upon fear of what he would do against those who refused him:


This difference in orientation reflects the differing personalities of Morgoth and Sauron. The benefits to be gained from worshipping Morgoth are characterized as follows:

But to some he began to show favour: to the strongest and the cruellest, and to those who went most often to the House.8 He gave gifts to them, and knowledge that they kept secret; and they became powerful and proud, and they enslaved us, so that we had no rest from labour amidst our afflictions. (HoMe X.348)

:

This motif of hunting down and destroying the infidels who refuse to worship Morgoth is repeated elsewhere in Tolkien's descriptions of the Men of Darkness:

Men who had made [Morgoth] their God and believed that they could render him no more pleasing service than to destroy the 'renegades' with every kind of cruelty. (HoMe XII.306)

[afro-elf]

the questions


I found the article interesting but The competing religions of Morgoth and Sauron have me a tad confused.

If Sauron was a servant of Morgoth why the conflict of the Numenoreans with Sauron?

Did they ( Numenoreans) not know that Sauron served Morgoth.

I am way too tired at the moment to ponder this alone. Any assistance would be welcome.

[markedel]

Ah. Numenorian worship of Morgoth likely began outside Numenor itself-thus "Black Numenorians." Under Ar-Pharazon it became a kind of state religion-before Sauron arrived in Numenor the kings were in fear of the Valar, and thus did not fully abandon them.

[afro-elf]

But wasn't Sauron a servant of Morgoth?

So why the conflict between two servants of the same master?


Maybe the Numenoreans felt they were better servants?

[Findegil]

I think Black-Numenorenans is a term of the third age.

During the second age the worship of Morgoth began after Sauron had found the ear of the King Ar-Pharazon. The Numenorans were divieded in two groups befor that. One group that still hold the Valar in awe and one that only feared them but did not love respect them as the rulers of Arda. The first Group, the Faithfull, worshiped Iluvatar, but with out any real ceremonies becuase theses were only preformed by the King and the king didn't want them.
The Kingsmen or second group had become atheists not worshipers of Melkor.

respectfully
Findegil

[Sween]

The key to the Numerians worshiping Morgoth was that Sauron said that he could give them life unending and that it was the Valar that witheld it from them.

[Finrod Felagund]

Their religions? Simple, the same one. Morgoth worshipped himself and Sauron worshipped Morgoth.

[afro-elf]

Thanks Sween and Findegil that cleared up my confusion.