--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An Inuit hunter asked the local…" description: "\"An Inuit hunter asked the local missionary priest: If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell? No, said the priest, not if you did not kno..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/554/annie-dillard-509_asked_an-inuit-hunter-asked-the-local-missiona_2935340.jpg" --- # An Inuit hunter asked the local missionary priest: If I… ![“An Inuit hunter asked the local missionary priest: 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 Inuit earnestly, did you tell me?” quote by Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/554/annie-dillard-509_asked_an-inuit-hunter-asked-the-local-missiona_2935340.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/554/annie-dillard-509_asked_an-inuit-hunter-asked-the-local-missiona_2935340.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/554/annie-dillard-509_asked_an-inuit-hunter-asked-the-local-missiona_2935340.jpg) > “An Inuit hunter asked the local missionary priest: 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 Inuit earnestly, did you tell me?” [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A missionary’s claim that ignorance of sin excuses hell‑bound fate is challenged, exposing contradictions in doctrine and belief. **In simple terms:** Ignorance doesn’t excuse divine judgment. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about faith and morality. Themes faith ethics knowledge Mood reflective provocative Type philosophical theological When to use this quote - interfaith dialogue - education - personal belief systems - missionary work Key Concepts theology moral responsibility religious doctrine Questions to Reflect On - Do you think ignorance is a valid excuse? - How should faith address unknowns? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex theology. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Hunters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunters/) [Inuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inuit/) [Missionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missionary/) [Priests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priests/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) ## Related quotes > [“If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?" "No", said the priest, "not if you did not know."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/if-i-did-not-know-about-god-and-sin-would-i-go-to-hell-no-said-the/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [Eskimo: 'If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?' Priest: 'No, not if you did not know.' Eskimo:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/eskimo-if-i-did-not-know-about-god-and-sin-would-i-go-to-hell-priest/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [According to Inuit culture in Greenland, a person possesses six or seven souls. The souls take the form of tiny people scattered throughout the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/according-to-inuit-culture-in-greenland-a-person-possesses-six-or/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“ …It's breadth, and the strength between us to know that we're ready for the next step. I want to do it this way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-shire/it-s-breadth-and-the-strength-between-us-to-know-that-we-re-ready-for/) [Brandon Shire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-shire/) > [“Any idea how we’re going to choose our best men?” Hunter asked drowsily. 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I made sin, hell, even take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/oh-god-i-do-not-need-your-heaven-or-hell-i-made-good-work-found-great/) Mak\_786 ## More by Annie Dillard > [Like everyone in his right mind, I feared Santa Claus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/like-everyone-in-his-right-mind-i-feared-santa-claus/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“This is a spendthrift economy; though nothing is lost, all is spent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/this-is-a-spendthrift-economy-though-nothing-is-lost-all-is-spent/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [The creatures I seek do not want to be seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-creatures-i-seek-do-not-want-to-be-seen/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [Nothing moves a woman so deeply as the boyhood of the man she loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/nothing-moves-a-woman-so-deeply-as-the-boyhood-of-the-man-she-loves/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [We live in all we seek. 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