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Religion and Fly Fishing: A Unique Perspective on Norman Maclean's Work

In this article, Theodore Weinberger explores the connection between religion and fly fishing in Norman Maclean's writing. Weinberger discusses the themes of love, grace, and storytelling, and how they are intertwined with the act of fly fishing. Through a unique perspective, the article sheds light on the deeper meaning of Maclean's work.

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Religion and Fly Fishing: A Unique Perspective on Norman Maclean's Work

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  1. Religion and Fly Fishing: Taking Norman Maclean Seriously By: Theodore Weinberger Renascence: Essays on Values in Literature

  2. Are they credible? Author Journal Theodore Weinberger • Professor at Florida International University • Miami, Florida • Jewish writer Renascence: Essays on Value and Literature • Established in 1948. • Renascence, a critical and scholarly journal, is published by Marquette University as a Christian witness to literature for promoting the study of values in literature. • It defines a perspective rather than a subject matter.

  3. How is This Relevant? • Weinberger here tries to shine light on how that we can glorify God and be granted his grace and love. • Weinberger says that we, as the readers, act as a “medium” between Norman and the ones he loved the most in this world. • This article takes us where no other has been, to the distinct comparison between fly fishing and religion. We get to see how that Norman saw such a likeness in the two. • With this, we can see one more theme in the book through another person’s perspective. Weinberger may have shown some problems with his views, but it is important to hear his views to get a better grasp on Maclean’s story.

  4. Relevant Quotes “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 storyteller.” • Context: Here we explore the extent of story telling and Fly fishing in the way they involve religion. • Meaning: With the way that Paul uses his fishing pole, Norman uses a pen. Paul uses his skill of fly fishing to receive grace through God, just as with Norman using the same skill but with a pen and paper he writes and tells stories. • Implication: Weinberger is saying that it doesn’t matter how you get there, works are what allow you to receive grace. If you have a skill use it to the glory of God.

  5. Relevant Quotes (Cont.) “The "wonderful world" is gone; the narrator's love for his family still exists.” • Context: The only way that Norman can be with his loved ones is through memory. Weinberger says that by writing Norman is able to revisit his family. • Meaning: Although the “wonderful world” is only in Norman’s memory, his love for his family still remains. • Implication: The story becomes like a magic carpet to the world in which Norman can never physically return.

  6. Relevant Quotes (cont.) “When performed with grace, both art and religion offer a way back into God’s beauty.” • Context: Weinberger is saying that “to practice an art is to glorify God.” • Meaning: We are sinful beings. We are not needed by God, and one of the ways in which we can give him glory, in spite of our sins, is through some sort of art, being Fly fishing here. • Implication: When we have grace in our actions, we are able to get a glance of God’s beauty.

  7. Summary • Love and Grace are viewed as the major themes of A River Runs Through It. • Love is mentioned through family, the passing of teachings from father to his sons, and the love of God for all of creation. • Grace is achieved by mastering a skill and turning it into an act and glorifying God.

  8. Errors In Logic • Weinberger basically says that Paul is perfect and “for him to live any longer would be to try and improve upon perfection” No man can be perfect, so to describe Paul as perfect is illogical. • Weinberger also believes that grace is achieved by works. He says, “Paul literally achieves transcendence in his fishing.” His fishing abilities are way above the normal person’s, but they certainly cannot make up for his gambling, fighting, and sinful nature. He cannot attain grace in this manner and neither can Norman with his story telling. It is only through Christ that we can attain grace.

  9. Works Cited "Renascence - Essays on Values in Literature [Since 1948]: About." Marquette University | Be The Difference. Web. 13 Apr. 2010. <http://www.marquette.edu/renascence/about.html>. Weinberger, Theodore. “Religion and Fly Fishing: Taking Norman Maclean Seriously.” Renascence: Essays on Values in Literature. 49.n4 (Summer 1997): 281(9). Academic OneFile. Web. 1 April 2010.

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