Saved?

[LBernier at tribune.com]

Yes, the early church fathers were appalled by the gnostics, because 
the gnostics upset the  (then emerging) power structure.    It wasn't 
about chaos vs. structure, it was about the individual pursuit of 
knowledge, and the idea that no one person (given that we are none of 
us omniscient) should be allowed to interpret scripture or any moral 
code for the rest of humanity.  The bible says nada about abortion, 
but the Catholic Church would have you believe it's the 11th 
commandment.  And who are you to argue if your access to studying the 
scripture is denied?  Better just to burn them as heretics, eh?

Having been raised a Southern Baptist I can tell you a lot about the 
Church as a tool for political power, and how twisted that is compared 
to the teachings of Christ.  I'm not sure, however, that hag is 
correct in assigning monotheism to the realm of THEM - yes, many 
attrocities have been committed in the name of monotheism (continuing 
unto the present day) but the concept of one god is not, to my mind, 
inherently conspiratorial.
 
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Saved?
Author:  RR.TFCNY at mail.fdncenter.org (RICHARD ROMEO) at Internet_tco
Date:    7/29/96 3:48 PM


Hag says:  "In reading TRP's texts I have always quite automatically read 
not 
     
just Christianity but the entire monotheist Judeo/Christian/Islamic 
     
'diaspora' (as well as its precursors) as deeply integrated into Their 
     
structures - to the extent of forming the oldest and most prominent of 
     
three or four pillars. I'd be interested in arguments to the contrary."
     
--------------------------
     
Are you sure sir just what Pynchon advocates or dismisses?  Second which 
relates to first is structures are needed (albeit with room for 
corruption)--many of the early church fathers were appalled at the 
attitudes of the gnostics who believed they didn't need the church or any 
hierarchy at all to become "as Christ".  Now i'm not suggesting that the 
church fathers were right but this is a complex issue (order vs. 
chaos)--seems each had benefits.  I would use the analogy of a librarian 
doing an online search and reviewing results and a novice doing an online 
search and reviewing results:  who would you beleive?  Again I'm not 
saying a librarian or a priest would know better but it doesn't seem to 
be one or the other.
     
Does Pynchon definitely positively denigrate Christianity?  I'm not so 
sure...it would seem we need Them to find Us and destroy them.
     
     
     
Richard Romeo
     
Coordinator of Cooperating Collections
     
The Foundation Center-NYC
     
212-807-2417
     
rromeo at fdncenter.org