`...it's really difficult to talk about this,' writes Helena, `but i always found the whole concept of the fat lady to be very, well, christian...' I wonder is she expressing an embarassment that many of us feel as soon as the word Christian appears ? I for one certainly share it. Zen, Buddhism & so on, have a stylish, chic quality. You wouldn't be ashamed to bring them up in the most fashionable company. Whereas `Christian' conjures up all too readily images of earnest, clean-cut, young Mormons or seedy old whiskey priests. Many people of my generation - myself among them - slide away from the problem by denying allegiance to the church but claim, modestly enough, an empathy with Jesus the ethics master. Yet Salinger actually put this dialogue into Zooey's mouth: `And don't you know - listen to me now - don't you know who the Fat Lady really is ? .... Ah, buddy. Ah, buddy. It's Christ Himself. Christ Himself, buddy.' Sweat-making, huh ? Scottie B.