GR 'Streets'

[Terrance]

Otto wrote:
> 
> >
> > I don't think the novel is anti-christian or anti-religious.
> >
> 
> Hi Terrance,
> 
> I knew that you would say something like this sooner or later.
> 
> Why then there are so many negative examples of Christian behaviour in the
> novel?

If you provide examples I will reply to each one. Of course there are
lots of them so just pick a few and theen I can reply. 


> 
> Why the army chaplains, why garrison-churches and not just simply soldiers
> praying? 

It is just simply soldiers. Ordinary men. 

What's their "function" in the novel if not for pointing out how
> the "system," how "They" use the believes of simple people for sinister
> purposes?

Your confused here, the army-chaplain doesn't work for THEM. 

Again, please see Father Rapier's Sermon. 


> 
> I am deeply convinced that the novel is as anti-Christian as it is, for
> example, anti-Marxist or anti-astrological:
> 
> "For God's sake, next you'll be consulting horoscopes."
> "Hitler does."
> "Hitler is an inspired man. But you and I are employees, remember.  .  .  ."
> (33.8-12)

I disagree. The astrology is not the target here, Hitler's use of it is. 



> 
> The novel is against any ism, any ideology and any belief and it shows that
> all these meta-histories the preterite believe in and the elect are abusing
> are just fiction, just fairy-tales who make believe that there's a happy
> ending (as classical fairytales always have). But the novel says that in
> reality there's no happy ending, just death when it's over. There will be no
> miracle or any Deus ex machina (which are narrative devices only). The army
> chaplains are serving to the only purpose of fooling the soldiers. Instead
> of going AWOL (which would be a natural and healthy reaction) these are
> "going to die" (693.13) which is something the text is very definite about.

This is a misreading. The army-chaplain is not the Pope calling on
Christians to die for the cross. 




> Your Milton-example just shows that resurrection isn't a Christian
> invention.


Yes, that's one thing it shows, but it also shows that these myths are
all invested in the central figure (Lycidas) and that is exactly what
Pynchon does with Slothrop. And to what end? Well, in Lycidas there is a
condemnation of the clergy, worth looking into.