Taking Norman Maclean Seriously…Religion and Fly Fishing

1. Taking Norman Maclean Seriously…Religion and Fly Fishing Josh Kirkland Alexis Landry Michelle Molzahn

2. Dr. Theodore Weinberger • Ph.D. from Emory University • Teaches at: --Bar-Ilan University --the Center for Conservative Judaism in Jerusalem --Brigham Young University --Young Judea’s year course at the Hebrew University

3. A World Perfect and Apart “Fishing is made into a “world perfect and apart” by the fisherman-it does not objectively exist as such. The skilled, hard-working fly fisherman, just like the skilled religious practitioner, is able, somehow, mysteriously, to inhabit a “world perfect and apart.” In both fly fishing and religion, one is set apart from reality, going off into another world Religion is often thought of as being on a different level than everyday, ordinary experiences

4. “When performed with grace, both art and religion offer a way back into God’s beauty” “all good things-trout as well as eternal salvation-come by grace and grace comes by art and art does not come easy (3)” Just as in religion, fly fishing has rules that must be followed for the “art to be mastered” • Fishing rod as a “rod,” not a “pole” • Casting motion in 4 steps • No drinking on the river Religious Rules - Catechism • “Mans chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”

5. “We can see that two paths to salvation are explored in this story: the path of the graceful fly fisherman and the path of the graceful story teller.” Salvation Paul: art of fly fishing “Significantly the last word on Paul is not an account of the fight that ended with his dead body dumped in an alley, but it is the father saying and the narrators repeating that ‘he was beautiful’” Though Paul has been caught up in troubles with gambling, drinking, and women, they all disappear when he is on the water Norman: the power of words “Just as story telling can refill a dry channel of water, it can make deceased loved ones come alive again.” Norman is trying to express through his personal story how much love he has towards his family

6. “It is by giving the reader a sense of this love that Maclean gives the reader a sense of salvation” • Norman wants to help and understand Paul • Norman wants to help his wife, Jessie • Norman wants to help his family and loved ones, such as Neil Through Norman and his relationships with his family, we experience his view of salvation

7. Who Cares? • Through the examples and details provided, religion and fly fishing go hand in hand Now we can better understand the book 1.) Like religion, when fly fishing, we experience another world with the author 2.) Religion and fly fishing are inexplicably intertwined 3.) The importance of family is key

8. Logical Error “Paul’s death made artistic senses; for him to live any longer would be to try to improve upon perfection” Paul still had trouble fishing occasionally Morally, he was far from perfect as well He wasn’t willing to accept the help from his family

9. Cast Shot (from left: Jessie, Rawhide, Paul)