Divine Intervention - Fwd: Re: introduction

Sun Jun 7 21:00:02 UTC 2026

I think there is a lot of religious, Christian and other, allusive use in
Pynchon. The Word in LOT 49; that epigraph and Simone Weil and others in
GR. In ATD, remember the thread that tries to follow Orthodox Christianity
—-historically most connected to JC, many historians say.
And, of course, there is Tibetan Buddhism all over and in Against the Day.
I think it all represents what religion searches for.

On Sun, Jun 7, 2026 at 7:47 AM Michael Bailey via Pynchon-l <
pynchon-l at waste.org> wrote:

>
> I remember him!
>
> Something different, not as different as Glenn Scheper, but definitely
> commenting from.an unusual angle.
>
> Figured it might be OBA himself, although I tend to think that about
> everybody on the list whom I haven't met in person (ie all of youse!). I
> tracked him a little online (not something I do anymore, it seems rude)
> found he was also in a Christian poetry group, wrote him off list with a
> compliment for his poetry - he responded amiably but not heartily & I
> figured not to pester him anymore. The poetry wasn't like any of Mr
> Pynchon's published work but it was decent, IIRC.
>
> Maybe Christianity is the secret sauce in the Pynchon oeuvre - one of
> those very intellectual developments around an enlivening faith which reach
> out to the world instead of curling up around a finite, limiting credo.
> ________________________________
> From: Pynchon-l <pynchon-l-bounces at waste.org> on behalf of Robin
> Landseadel via Pynchon-l <pynchon-l at waste.org>
> Sent: Saturday, June 6, 2026 3:58 PM
> To: pynchon-l at waste.org <pynchon-l at waste.org>; Robin Landseadel <
> robinlandseadel at comcast.net>
> Subject: Divine Intervention - Fwd: Re: introduction
>
> Trawling through my old e-mail correspondence for Against the Day—there's
> some Charles Hollander exchanges there—I ran across this one again and
> realized that this wasn't posted to the P-List, and it's not as if it's
> containing any state secrets. But as long as we are discussing the
> miraculous, religion, the spiritual and the writing of Thomas Pynchon,
> maybe, just maybe, this post might offer us some insight, if we are open to
> the possibility that Pynchon could be a very unorthodox Catholic. Think
> "Catholic Worker", if you will . . .
>
> > ---------- Original Message ----------
> > From: friend tom <telecomtom at gmail.com>
> > To: "robinlandseadel at comcast.net" <robinlandseadel at comcast.net>
> > Date: 12/21/2006 4:43 PM PST
> > Subject: Re: introduction
> >
> >
> > On 12/21/06, robinlandseadel at comcast.net mailto:
> robinlandseadel at comcast.net <robinlandseadel at comcast.net mailto:
> robinlandseadel at comcast.net> wrote:
> >
> > > My understanding is that Thomas Pynchon's family tree is full of
> heretics.
> > > My reading of the author's writings indicates that Mr. Pynchon's
> > > literary output is profoundly heretical, and requires understanding
> > > of some rather occult goings on. Some of the pages of GR are
> > > either quotes from or magical actions derived from A.E. Waite's
> > > book of black magic. My advice is that you should proceed with
> > > extreme caution
> > >
> >
> >
> > I take your advice to heart. Thank you so much for the reminder. I will
> make sure to have a copy of the Bible with me whenever I dare touch the
> Gravity book or any of Mr. Pynchon's works for that matter.
> >
> > As for the other responders to my introduction, I thank you for your
> well-intentioned but sometimes harsh words. I will make a special place for
> you in my prayers tonight:
> >
> > * Why did I pick Mr. Pynchon's list? Because our pastor mentioned him as
> a beacon luring unsuspecting college students onto the rocks. If any of you
> are in school, please examine your consciences and pray for guidance. I
> will do likewise.
> >
> > * Why Howard Stern? Everyone knows he is, well, just the most terrible,
> corrupting, decadent influence on radio. Look at what he did: slithered out
> to satellite range where the FCC couldn't get at him. He thought he could
> go out there and spread his nastiness and decadence without any
> interference from the good people of this country? Oh no, not so. We are
> keeping track of him and praying for his salvation.
> >
> > * I don't count things on The Simpsons so I can't help the person who
> asked. I only mention the show because it is actually a Christian-friendly
> message, and Mr. Pynchon knew it full well when he made his appearance in
> 2004. Everyone would agree that he's pretty smart, yes? Do any of you doubt
> for a nanosecond that he failed to understand the Christian interpretation
> of the show on which his bagged head appeared? Not a chance.
> >
> > * I mentioned that I know a lot because I've been studying this Pynchon
> Phenomenon for many days now, even a week or longer if the truth be told.
> Someone responded that that was like saying a few days of study would make
> him a Bible scholar. Thank you for pointing that out. I am ashamed of
> myself for my lack of humility. You see, yes, I am a sinner. I need the
> Lord's forgiveness as much as any of you, probably more. I can only try to
> be good but I know I will fail again and again. It is a constant struggle.
> >
> > * Remember that God loves you and He wants you to have a Merry
> Christmas. And a Happy New Year.
> >
> --
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>