Re: catcher copies

Rod Lobaugh (ral@xc.org)
Wed, 13 Aug 1997 23:06:10 +0200

> so  I worry about how the
> question of holden's christianity might be presented.  I've always felt
> that the beauty of holden's character is that beneath all the mucking
> around and searching, there's a person who is very admirable in some ways
> most religions would praise...will
> 
>
I generally hate finding christ in every piece of literature.  I 
think it's imaginary most the time.  but anyway,

I agree with will here, but this whole question of "christian 
standard" is a confusing one.  conservative christian standard?  
liberal christian standard?  southern christian standard?  the list 
goes on.  Of course there's the "christ-like standard" in which case 
I think from what I know of JC from the sacred text would suggest a 
non-condemning, hand out stretched to Holden.  I guess by a JC 
standard, holden would be someone that doesn't know him yet.  That 
seems to be the great distinction.

I think Salinger spotted this to some extent though.  Or Holden did.  
He liked Jesus, hated the disciples.  The disciples were dumb and 
quick to judge, Jesus was quite opposite.  Now if Holden would have 
got a little farther and maybe looked a little deeper, he would have 
seen the change in the apostles in the book of Acts.  But the point 
is, their "christian standard" (though christian wasn't used then) 
was to turn away the blind man who wanted to see JC.  JC turned and 
opened his eyes.

But then again just talking about these things in a positive tone of 
voice is likely to get me impaled these days so, I'll leave it at 
that.

Rod 
   
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   "And forget, don't regret to find love and happiness,
    Unless you are willing to be strong when they're gone,
    Along the Way" - Bad Religion