whipping my religion

[Dave Monroe]

A lot to think about in everything I DIDN'T quote below.  In the meantime, on Abraham, Isaac, transcendence and the futility thereof, cf. Moran & Son in Samuel Beckett's Molloy as well?  Also recall perhaps Erich Auerbach's ol' compare 'n' contrast of (Greek) Odysseus' return from his wanderings to (Hebraic) Abraham's just plain wanderings?  Mebbe consult Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer's Dialectic of Enlightenment on similar matters?  Recall Jonathan Z. Smith on, say, Eliade and the construction of cyclical time?  Among other things ... but, at any rate, glad to see a bit of a conversation being struck up here ...

J Suete wrote:

> It's no coincidence that Isaac is a Pynchon favorite. The futility of sacrificing one's Son to save the world or to transcend it seems to have some particular resonance with TRP's audience (yes of course he had/has an audience and he wrote to them with intent and Joyceian carefulness)