Bowhunting World article.
06-22-2003, 09:23 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Martinsville Indiana USA
Posts: 23
Bowhunting World article.
I was surprised to see an article in Bowhunting World, which I receive as part of the benefits of IBO membership, stating as it' s title that there are no atheist grizzly hunters!
I wonder what documentation the author has for making such a statement? I suspect that the statement is meant to imply that anyone experiencing either the awe, or the fear, of a brush with one of nature' s most imposing predators must abandon their prior thoughts on the subject of a supreme being and somehow be immediately converted to some sort of religious belief. This is in the same spirit of the old statement that there are no atheists in foxholes. That particular offensive statement has been proven false many times over.
I find such a statement to be patently offensive and completely out of place in the magazine. I can' t definitely state from firsthand knowledge that he is factually wrong, since I' ve never hunted grizzlies myself and have no knowledge of the religious beliefs or lack of same of those who have. However, since a recent poll on a popular bowhunting site I view regularly showed a number of avowed atheists among the members who responded, and lacking any evidence to suggest that the percentage of atheists among bowhunters is noticably less than among the general public, it would seem extremely likely that in addition to being offensive to those of us who don' t share the author' s religion, the statement is also false.
I have no objection to the authors stating his personal belief in " the Man upstairs" in the article, as that is his own belief and he' s certainly entitled to it, and entitled to express it as his own belief. But to make such an insensitive statement about others' belief systems is totally out of place.
I do (normally) enjoy the magazine. I' m also not usually among those who are quick to take offense at anything like this. I' m reasonably sure it was not done with malicious intent, but the fact that it was selected as the title at all, plus the fact that it wasn' t changed by the editorial staff, indicate that some more thought to sensitivity might be in order for both the author and the staff. Hopefully a statement of apology will be forthcoming.
I wonder what documentation the author has for making such a statement? I suspect that the statement is meant to imply that anyone experiencing either the awe, or the fear, of a brush with one of nature' s most imposing predators must abandon their prior thoughts on the subject of a supreme being and somehow be immediately converted to some sort of religious belief. This is in the same spirit of the old statement that there are no atheists in foxholes. That particular offensive statement has been proven false many times over.
I find such a statement to be patently offensive and completely out of place in the magazine. I can' t definitely state from firsthand knowledge that he is factually wrong, since I' ve never hunted grizzlies myself and have no knowledge of the religious beliefs or lack of same of those who have. However, since a recent poll on a popular bowhunting site I view regularly showed a number of avowed atheists among the members who responded, and lacking any evidence to suggest that the percentage of atheists among bowhunters is noticably less than among the general public, it would seem extremely likely that in addition to being offensive to those of us who don' t share the author' s religion, the statement is also false.
I have no objection to the authors stating his personal belief in " the Man upstairs" in the article, as that is his own belief and he' s certainly entitled to it, and entitled to express it as his own belief. But to make such an insensitive statement about others' belief systems is totally out of place.
I do (normally) enjoy the magazine. I' m also not usually among those who are quick to take offense at anything like this. I' m reasonably sure it was not done with malicious intent, but the fact that it was selected as the title at all, plus the fact that it wasn' t changed by the editorial staff, indicate that some more thought to sensitivity might be in order for both the author and the staff. Hopefully a statement of apology will be forthcoming.
06-23-2003, 09:35 AM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NW Ohio USA
Posts: 1,532
RE: Bowhunting World article.
Did you send a copy of this to the magazines editor? If it offends you then you probably should right?...
Maybe they can offer you a logical explanation...
Regards and God Bless, Pat
Maybe they can offer you a logical explanation...
Regards and God Bless, Pat
06-23-2003, 01:35 PM
#3
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Martinsville Indiana USA
Posts: 23
RE: Bowhunting World article.
BowTechShooter, yes, I agree. Just finished sending it. I had a hard time finding out how to send it to the editor, so waited until this morning. Just had to get it off my chest last night while I was still kind of hot about it, and since the IBO includes that magazine with membership, I felt this site was also appropriate to vent on. I' ve cooled off some overnight, and my letter to the editor was friendlier. I do like the magazine, but still think it was very insensitive to take such a swipe at the belief systems of a portion of their readers. Hopefully a reminder about sensitivity will get the message across.
06-24-2003, 01:01 AM
#4
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Martinsville Indiana USA
Posts: 23
RE: Bowhunting World article.
Update...the editor sent me an e-mail personally assuring me that no offense was intended. No word on whether there will be any sort of statement of apology to others who may have been offended by it. I do appreciate his prompt and courteous reply. As far as I' m concerned, he' s been notified that there was a perceived insult, and responded appropriately. In the process I hope his sensitivity level on the subject has been raised just a tad. Case closed and no further complaint from me, although I still think the small statement of apology to any other offended parties would be the right thing to do.
It is a very good magazine, and I have no desire to badmouth the magazine or its editor. I won' t be burning my stack of back issues, or tearing up my IBO card (especially since we' ve already sent in our deposit on the room at Snowshoe!).
It is a very good magazine, and I have no desire to badmouth the magazine or its editor. I won' t be burning my stack of back issues, or tearing up my IBO card (especially since we' ve already sent in our deposit on the room at Snowshoe!).
06-24-2003, 01:33 AM
#5
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New Stanton PA USA
Posts: 2,213
RE: Bowhunting World article.
I' m also not usually among those who are quick to take offense at anything like this.
If the title of that article is all it takes to get you in a huff, being offended must be a full time job for you.
Have a nice day.
06-24-2003, 11:24 AM
#6
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Martinsville Indiana USA
Posts: 23
RE: Bowhunting World article.
No, not really, Big Country. Even guys who don' t know a thing about me personally accusing me of lieing doesn' t get me too heated up. I just pass it off as someone wanting to run their mouth and let it slide.
You have a good one, too.
You have a good one, too.
06-24-2003, 05:25 PM
#7
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New Stanton PA USA
Posts: 2,213
RE: Bowhunting World article.
Russ, glad to hear you don`t get heated up easily. As far as someone calling you a liar, I must assume this transpired on another website. I mean, with 11 posts on this forum, how could that take place in that short of a posting history.
While I may disagree with your thoughts on this subject, I would never call you, or anyone else a liar, unless I had absolute proof, so you need`nt worry about that from me.
While I may disagree with your thoughts on this subject, I would never call you, or anyone else a liar, unless I had absolute proof, so you need`nt worry about that from me.
06-25-2003, 12:07 AM
#10
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: TROUPSBURG, N.Y
Posts: 371
RE: Bowhunting World article.
I read the story and I think that there was no harm or any intended. One good story deserves another.
An atheist was walking through the woods one day in Alaska, admiring all that evolution had created. " What majestic trees! What a powerful river! What beautiful animals!" He said to himself.
As he was walking alongside the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. Turning to look, he saw a 13 foot Kodiak brown bear was rapidly closing on him. Somehow, he ran even faster, so scared that tears came to his eyes. He looked again and the bear was even closer. His hear pounding in his chest, he tried to run faster yet. But alas, he tripped and fell to the ground. As he rolled over to pick himself up, the bear was right over him, reaching for him with its left paw and raising its right paw to strike him.
" OH MY GOD!" he cried. Time stopped.....The bear froze... The forest was silent..... Even the river stopped moving.....
As a brilliant light shone upon the man, a thunderous voice came from all around, ' YOU DENY MY EXISTANCE FOR ALL THESE YEARS, TEACH OTHERS THAT I DON' T EXIST AND EVEN CREDIT CREATION TO SOME COSMIC ACCIDENT. DO YOU EXPECT ME TO HELP YOU OUT OF THIS PREDICAMENT? " AM I TO COUNT YOU AS A BELIEVER?"
Difficult as it was, the atheist looked directly into the light and said, " It would be hypocritical to ask to be a Cristian after all these years, but perhaps you could make the bear a Christian?"
" VERY WELL," said God. The light went out. The river ran. The sounds of the forest resumed.
.. and the bear dropped down on his knees, brought both paws together bowed his head and spoke:
" Lord, thank you for this food which I am about to receive.
God Bless. I hope that both of these bear stories did not offend the majority.
An atheist was walking through the woods one day in Alaska, admiring all that evolution had created. " What majestic trees! What a powerful river! What beautiful animals!" He said to himself.
As he was walking alongside the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. Turning to look, he saw a 13 foot Kodiak brown bear was rapidly closing on him. Somehow, he ran even faster, so scared that tears came to his eyes. He looked again and the bear was even closer. His hear pounding in his chest, he tried to run faster yet. But alas, he tripped and fell to the ground. As he rolled over to pick himself up, the bear was right over him, reaching for him with its left paw and raising its right paw to strike him.
" OH MY GOD!" he cried. Time stopped.....The bear froze... The forest was silent..... Even the river stopped moving.....
As a brilliant light shone upon the man, a thunderous voice came from all around, ' YOU DENY MY EXISTANCE FOR ALL THESE YEARS, TEACH OTHERS THAT I DON' T EXIST AND EVEN CREDIT CREATION TO SOME COSMIC ACCIDENT. DO YOU EXPECT ME TO HELP YOU OUT OF THIS PREDICAMENT? " AM I TO COUNT YOU AS A BELIEVER?"
Difficult as it was, the atheist looked directly into the light and said, " It would be hypocritical to ask to be a Cristian after all these years, but perhaps you could make the bear a Christian?"
" VERY WELL," said God. The light went out. The river ran. The sounds of the forest resumed.
.. and the bear dropped down on his knees, brought both paws together bowed his head and spoke:
" Lord, thank you for this food which I am about to receive.
God Bless. I hope that both of these bear stories did not offend the majority.