Fortunately, Greg, we have all been relieved of having to grapple with that particular issue, due to the simple fact that Tolkien himself never asserted in any way that his writings were the Word of God.

Why do I have to TELL you these things? ;-)

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pete - Would you be willing to consider the possibility that Adam was a symbolic figure, an archetype, not a literal figure, and that he serves as a symbol of the early beginnings of the human race...or at least of some part of the human race, such as the tribes in the ancient Middle East?

Why not? There are such symbolic founding figures in many religions. The Amerindians had legends about similar symbolic figures who started off their race, or who taught them to grow corn, etc, and it's quite clear that they are all archetypes, and that the stories are not literally about a single person. They are parables intended to describe a very lengthy natural event in simple, dramatic terms that people living a simple, natural life can easily relate to.

Surely it is the same type of thing with the story of Adam and Eve? At least, I would think so.