If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?" "No", said the priest, "not if you did not know." "Then why," asked the Eskimo earnestly, "did you tell me?
In Annie Dillard's "Pilgrim at Tinker Creek," there is a poignant exchange between a priest and an Eskimo regarding knowledge of God and sin. The Eskimo wonders about the consequences of ignorance; specifically, if someone does not know about God or sin, would they be condemned to hell? The priest reassures him that they would not be held accountable for something they were unaware of. This conversation leads to a deeper inquiry about the purpose of sharing such knowledge. The Eskimo's question, "Then why did you tell me?" reveals the complexities of enlightenment and the burdens that come with awareness. By introducing these concepts, the priest inadvertently complicates the Eskimo's understanding of morality and salvation.
In Annie Dillard's "Pilgrim at Tinker Creek," there is a poignant exchange between a priest and an Eskimo regarding knowledge of God and sin. The Eskimo wonders about the consequences of ignorance; specifically, if someone does not know about God or sin, would they be condemned to hell? The priest reassures him that they would not be held accountable for something they were unaware of.
This conversation leads to a deeper inquiry about the purpose of sharing such knowledge. The Eskimo's question, "Then why did you tell me?" reveals the complexities of enlightenment and the burdens that come with awareness. By introducing these concepts, the priest inadvertently complicates the Eskimo's understanding of morality and salvation.
