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Nobody wanted to hear about all the Preterite, the many…

“Nobody wanted to hear about all the Preterite, the many God passes over when he chooses a few for salvation. William argued holiness for these "second Sheep," without whom there'd be no elect. You can bet the Elect in Boston were pissed off about that. And it got worse. William felt that what…” quote by Thomas Pynchon
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““Nobody wanted to hear about all the Preterite, the many God passes over when he chooses a few for salvation. William argued holiness for these "second Sheep," without whom there'd be no elect. You can bet the Elect in Boston were pissed off about that. And it got worse. William felt that what Jesus was for the elect, Judas Iscariot was for the Preterite. Everything in the Creation has its equal and opposite counterpart. How can Jesus be an exception? could we feel for him anything but horror in the face of the unnatural, the extracreational? Well, if he is the son of man, and if what we feel is not horror but love, then we have to love Judas too. Right? How William avoided being burned for heresy, nobody knows.””

Thomas Pynchon

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The passage questions theological exclusivity, suggesting that if all creation has counterparts, then Judas must also be loved, challenging orthodox views of salvation.

In simple terms: If everything has an opposite, Judas deserves love too.

Key Takeaway

Moral dualism challenges binary judgments.

Themes

theology philosophy ethics literature

Mood

provocative thought‑provoking

Type

theological speculation literary critique

When to use this quote

  • interfaith dialogue
  • moral dilemmas
  • literary analysis

Key Concepts

dualism heretical speculation

Practical Applications

  • examining inclusive ethics

Questions to Reflect On

  • Can love be extended to those deemed evil?
  • What are the limits of theological inclusivity?
A Different Perspective

Traditional doctrines may reject the equivalence of all figures, emphasizing distinct moral roles.

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