The First Ones did not go off into another reality, they just left the galaxy. There is a huge difference, and nothing mystical about it.
A lot of stories have parallels with LOTR because it incorporates a lot of common themes...

In fact, I think all of these things you mention Tolkien got the ideas for from various mythologies originally.
[ September 14, 2003, 09:44: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]