The Sacred Art of Hunting : Myths, Legends, and the Modern Mythos

by James A. Swan

Book Overview

Many of the foremost social scientists of our times, including Freud, Jung and Fromm, consider hunting instinctual in man, a basic yet little understood human drive that has played a profound... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1572231882
• Release Date: February 2000
• Publisher: Willow Creek Pr
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.93 lbs.
• Dimensions: 11.5" x 0.8" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

How and Why to Read this Book, If You Care About Man and Nature

The cultural, sociological and economic basis of the modern act of hunting is a significant and interesting matter of personal choice and public policy in an age of radical environmentalism and "animal rights." This book is a nicely presented and worthwhile collection of data which adds a very significant source of fresh data to the more general philosophical and literary treatments of these points, by the likes of Ortega y. Gasset, etc. and etc., where the writing is strong on logic and reasoning -- but sparse on data of the actual cultural foundations of hunting. This book is focused on the narrow question of the connection between individual spirituality and the act of hunting. It addresses the most personal question of why we choose to preserve and hunt game in a time when it is an optional aspect of life, rather than a foundation to our survival. The answer to the foundation question has two parts. The first part is that there is no easy way to separate or untangle the elements of spiritual and ritual human psychology from the historical and present matrix of our world culture. The second part is to establish that the act of hunting is inextricably linked to the basis and evolution of our spiritual and religious being. Ergo, it is postulated that hunting sustains these ancient cultural elements which affords us with three useful results of great value. They are: 1. To maintain, in living form, a connection with our pre-civilized forebears; 2. To sustain an understanding and appreciation for our common spirituality and psychological makeup in support of our culture; and 3. To maintain a class of individuals (with natural ins and outs) who maintain a heightened reverence for nature in general as well as delicate game, with a natural balance in particular. Based on this reasoning, I think it is completely consistent to believe that radically motivated political attacks on hunters, if successful, would have untold negative impacts on world culture, would limit ancient traditions consistent with individual freedom, responsibility and democracy, and would be devastatingly bad for precious game species and their habitat. The hunting philosophy literature, of which this book is a valuable part, makes clear the case that hunting is a living artifact of prehistoric man. It is a source of more information about the Paleolithic Age and the progressive development of world religion and moral codes than any surviving fossil or relic. While this book is somewhat American centric, it does give world coverage of the ancient history and the evolution of religion in today's life. In some ways, it makes a case that religion has adapted and provides modern ways to satisfy the generic cultural demands of the spiritual and ritual man, which descents in biological code from the Paleolithic days. The thesis is both logical and supported by data. More to follow on land use, conservation and environmentalism.

The Hunter's Mandate

Dr. Swan has skillfully assembled and organized a history of hunting that all hunters should know and understand. So many of us, even the most well-educated, love and cherish hunting and yet cannot trace our heritage past our parents or grandparents. Swan helps to fill this void by creatively telling the story of our much taller family tree. However, I don't think non-hunters reading this book are going to be as intrigued as we would hope. Some of the charming traditions described, such as the annual blessing of the hounds and guns in a Canadian church, will seem downright peculiar to non-hunters. Most non-hunters are still going to have difficulty linking themselves and those hunters they personally know to our common universal ancestors, all of whom existed solely as hunter gatherers. As an avid hunter, I suppose I want this book to do the impossible: validate my passion and secure my future among a voting non-hunting public. I did come away from this book with an even clearer understanding of my mandate, as a hunter, to support in every way possible the local and national groups protecting my passion. In the end, what hunting needs is a brilliant, costly perpetual public relations campaign that emphasizes and protects who we are and what we do. It must be distinct from the other very important, closely related campaign to protect gun rights. It must, in the end, reclaim for hunters the rightful title of First Conservationists. Almost weekly, I read in a newspapar or periodical about some conservation effort or another, perhaps highlighting a creek cleanup or a local environmental law enactment, and the reporting journalist nearly always titles the piece something like this: "Conservationists and Hunters Join to Protect......". Clearly, in the media's eye, hunting and conservation are seen as distinct entities. Unless we change that perception, we shall sooner or later find ourselves entirely isolated at the polls.

Informative, engaging, uniquely inspiring.

The Sacred Art Of Hunting: Myths, Legends And The Modern Mythos is a thought-provoking survey of the rich heritage, customs, and histories of the hunt drawn from worldwide cultures and presenting a penetrating insight into the soul of the hunter. Author James Swan reveals a universal, common core experience which provides a cultural context of understanding for "modern" hunters and non-hunters alike. Swan creates a modern mythos of hunting as "an act of love for nature guided by the strongest spiritual forces" when practiced from an ethical perspective. The Sacred Art Of Hunting is a richly, wonderfully illustrated work which will provide inspire to hunters and enlightening for non-hunters as it offers a persuasive and thoughtful perspective on the nature of human beings, our presence in the natural scheme of things, and our evolving place in a changing world. The Sacred Art Of Hunting is highly informative, engaging, uniquely inspiring reading.

the sacred art of hunting - a review by ray stroup

Hunting ethically is personal, maybe, sanctified. As hunters, we feel, think, act, and reflect upon our blessed experiences. We are comfortable with who we are and grateful for what we do. Hunters are conservationists, humanitarians and cultural heroes. Why then, are so many hunters at a loss for words when asked, Why do you hunt? How can you justify the killing of animals? The Sacred Art of Hunting arms us with those answers, and more.Our relevancy and identity as hunters are challenged with suspicion by the uninformed and misinformed. We are increasingly asked to validate our very existence. Swan's The Sacred Art of Hunting takes the reader on a spirited journey to the center of the hunter's soul. The adventure is an ongoing reflection and thought provoking celebration of hunters and hunting. From the introduction, Hunters: An Endangered Species? through Chapter 15, The Hunter's Moon and the Crystal Ball the reader will feel an increased sense of value and a responsibility to honor and actively support hunters and hunting, for the right reasons. The Sacred Art of Hunting is a must read for hunters and non-hunters. The information is powerful and energizing. The photos are historic and keep you in awe. You see a bull elk shedding antlers with the horns having left the head and are part way to the ground. You see a (circa 1880s)photograph of Theodore Roosevelt holding a shotgun on two poachers. You see a blessing of guns, hounds, hunters and the hunt inside a Catholic Church in Canada. The guns are held high forming and archway as the hunters pass through and become the community heroes. Try that in your community!This reader came away with a double-barreled ability to first, improve my aim at better understanding my personal thoughts and experiences, thus enabling me to relate my hunting experiences with reverant meaning. Second, I now have the knock down power to become more formidable stopping the ongoing attack of anti-hunters charging forth with misinformation.