Pynchon and Catholicism

[Kai Frederik Lorentzen]

"The force of the Virgin was still felt at Lourdes, and seemed to be as 
potent as X-rays; but in America neither Venus nor Virgin ever had value 
as force --- at most as sentiment." (The Education of Henry Adams, p. 383)

Could "V" have been written by a 100% Protestantically socialized 
author? The cult of the Virgin Mary does not only distinguish 
Catholicism from other strains of Christianity, it seems to be unique 
among Abrahamic religions.  The Virgin Mary represents - like the Hindu 
Goddess Parvati -  the feminine aspect of the Divine in its benign 
grace.  & although the Virgin does not cover the fierce power of 
Goddesses like Kali or Durga, it makes imho sense to call Her the 
Western embodiment of the Shakti. Could a 100% Protestantically 
socialized author have written "V"?

Am 27.09.20 um 04:04 schrieb John Bailey:

> (...) Some of the defining features of Catholicism that I've heard
> distinguish it from other strains of Christianity include (...)
> - a massively more significant role accorded to Jesus's mother Mary...
> in fact at one point Mary was worshipped more than Jesus and the
> authorities had to step in a reel that back
>