Pynchon's Preterite

[MalignD at aol.com]

> <<Calvanism also obviously applies because it preaches that there is a “
> select” people (just as Judaism preached that the Jews were G-d’s “chosen”)>>
> 
The comparison to Judaism is faulty and your premise is wrong.   Calvinism 
doesn't preach that there is a a select people, at least in the way you imply.   
It says that, since God is all-knowing, he--sorry, He--knows who will be be 
righteous and saved and who will not.   But it is not something known, as the 
Jews know themself to be chosen.   So Calvin--unlike Luther--described a life 
of good works so as to reveal oneself as righteous and saved.   It's like 
buying insurance.

I've always felt from reading GR that Pynchon sought to be recognized 
affinities between Calvinism and probability theory.

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