I'm gonna ask the question....

[Mark Kohut]

Didn't I just read in this book a Gaddis line to the effect
that about these questions we are like children playing
with sand on the beachof the ocean?           

Or did I read that elsewhere?




________________________________
From: Paul Mackin <mackin.paul at verizon.net>
To: Erik T. Burns <eburns at gmail.com>; pynchon-l at waste.org
Sent: Tue, April 12, 2011 1:41:34 PM
Subject: Re: I'm gonna ask the question....

On 4/12/2011 12:48 PM, Erik T. Burns wrote: 
>And I'm going to be difficult and ask those
>>gaddisites who may know not to answer....
>
>I'm going to answer because my answer is "I don't know". 
>
>And to be honest, I don't care. 
>
>There is a man in _T R_ who proclaims his religion. I am bridled from revealing 
>it, but it is funny. 
>
>
>A-and as far as I am concerned, that's Gaddis' religion: comedy. 
>
Once upon spending the night in Georgetown University Hospital, a very nice 
Jesuit Priest stopped by my room to chat.  I told him that I was NOT a 
believer.  He asked, are you an atheist.  No, I answered.  Then, are you an 
agnostic? No, again. I'm not trying to be coy, Father, I said.  But when people 
ask me if I think God exists I can only honestly (I think) say that I don't 
understand the question.

What does "God" even mean?   And by the same token what is a Christian?

So I guess my answer to the question at issue is I don't understand the 
question. (or can I make myself understand)

I do wish I could or did practice the Christian virtues.  I'm afraid I don't, 
very much.  Many do, both who do and who do not call themselves Christians.  
Like them (or many of them) I am very much a product of Western Civilization, so 
Christianity has had a decided effect on who I am.  A long period of time 
elapsed between the fall of Rome and 1789. 


But even with things relative au courant, Christianity still has its sway.  I 
would say that the movement (or whatever it is) of Post Modernism--with its 
emphasis on the inclusion of all cultures and points of view--is without 
question Christian influenced.

Yeah, I guess Gaddis IS a Christian (in a manner of speaking)

P




>
>etb
>
>
>
> 
>On Tue, Apr 12, 2011 at 3:35 PM, Mark Kohut <markekohut at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>And I'm going to be difficult and ask those
>>gaddisites who may know not to answer....
>>
>>Spoiler.
>>
>>Let's see what the reading brings.
>>
>>So far, I'd say he's anti-Christian BUT it has
>>been said of John Milton, Christian, he was on
>>Satan's side in his major work.....
>>
>>And then there is Gaddis Eliot love----
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>----- Original Message ----
>>From: Richard Ryan <himself at richardryan.com>
>>To: Pynchon-L <pynchon-l at waste.org>
>>Sent: Mon, April 11, 2011 10:10:34 PM
>>Subject: I'm gonna ask the question....
>>
>>...since we're all begging it: is Gaddis a Christian author?
>>
>>
>>
>>--
>>Richard Ryan
>>New York and the World
>>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
>>Thanks to everyone who saw VTM's new production!
>>www.kingstheplay.com
>>
>>
>
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