V-2nd - Conclusion - questions

[Michael Bailey]

 Ian Livingston wrote:

> So I have to suggest the possibility here, too, that we can take this
> as a part of young P's notions of Lutheran / Calvinist theology.

I agree with the importance of all the following and that many
passages in Mr Pynchon's novels including V. work with those
notions...  May I just interject here, though, that I believe old
Stencil is C of E, which is a different kettle of fish.


> The elect who survive Armageddon have had all along all they will ever
> have until they are raised at the end of times to abide in Heaven with
> their God. Remembering that Armageddon is the cataclysmic
> confrontation that leads to the Millenium of the Kingdom of Heaven on
> Earth, and all that. The preterite were and remain disposable as set
> pieces on a stage. Maybe this thought might also shade somewhat of
> Benny's response to Brenda that he hasn't learned a goddam thing if we
> take Benny in this reading as elect and the Stencils as preterite.
>