Posted by Ritch on June 13, 2002, at 13:56:43
In reply to Re: What I found really interesting..., posted by mair on June 13, 2002, at 7:17:08
> Mitch
>
> That's a good take on Pastor Merrill - I bet he was trying to convert Owen to a more intellectual faith.
>
> The other piece of it is something I struggle with. My theory is that while Owen's parents' revelation to him is what informed Owen's earliest beliefs, over a long period of time, fueled by other events, Owen comes to believe that he is the instrument of god. His is a more mature belief by the end, not a child's belief. And let's face it, Owen is certainly bright enough to discount what his parents say, particularly his very nutty mother.
>
> And yes, Johnny and Dan are furious with his parents BUT Johnny tries to convince Dan that Owen was predestined or part of God's plan and he's very disgusted with Pastor Merrill for not seeing this also. Somewhere in the book he says that he believes in God because of Owen Meany. This doesn't happen until he sees the way in which the whole dream plays out.
>
> This is why I asked in an earlier post what difference it might have made if Owen had not been told of the supposed virgin birth by his parents.
>
> Mair
Yes, that is a very important point. So, I did some research on it and Owen was eleven in xmas of '53 and he had already been told by his parents. I think that Johnny mentions later on that he was told when he was eleven. Well, Johnny's mother gets married in July of '52. Also, Owen has the first *precognitive* dream about the angel *before* Tabitha gets married. So, it would seem that he was having dreams, visions, whatever, before he was told by his parents.Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:448
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/books/20020206/msgs/489.html