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Is Bigfoot really Cain?
Status: Weird cryptozoological theory
Here's a Bigfoot theory I haven't heard before. Apparently there are some in the Mormon church who hypothesize that Bigfoot may actually be Cain, condemned to walk the earth forever. Matt Bowman provides some scholarly elaboration on this theory on the Mormon Mentality blog.Apparently the Bigfoot-Cain connection traces back to a story told by an early leader of the Mormon church, David W. Patten. Patten claimed that in 1835 he encountered Cain walking along the side of the road. He wrote: "He walked along beside me for about two miles. His head was about even with my shoulders as I sat in my saddle. He wore no clothing, but was covered with hair. His skin was very dark."
Hmm. That sounds kind of like Bigfoot. At least, that's what some Mormons have apparently concluded in recent decades. Bowman writes: "Cain’s identification as Bigfoot has provided Mormons with a way to assimilate the claims of folktale with new conceptions of what Cain, the embodiment of evil, should be like."
So if Bigfoot is Cain, maybe Nessie is really the snake from the Garden of Eden.
Posted By: Alex | Date: Tue Jan 15, 2008 | Permalink |
Total Comments: 20
Category: Cryptozoology, Religion
Category: Cryptozoology, Religion
Listed in chronological order. Newest comments at the end.
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Perhaps this theory is inspired by the epic poem "Beowulf". In it, Grendel, the monster (sometimes used evidence for Bigfoot and the like by cryptozoologists) is described as being a descendadnt of Cain, who was so cursed for his acts, that his offspring were "all kinds of goblins and monsters". I am thinking this guy must've read that tale, and come up with that conclusion.
Posted by Roland in Mexico on Tue Jan 15, 2008 at 05:03 PM
Yep, this story travels the Mormon folklore circuit every so often. Heard it half a dozen times growing up. The notion that Cain still walks the earth predates Mormonism - something to do with the wording in KJV Genesis with him being a "vagabond", etc. - but I'm sorry to say that we've kept it alive longer than it had any business staying alive.
As for me, this Mormon thinks that Bigfoot is more than likely a nearly extinct North American primate. If he exists at all.
(And thanks for clarifying "some" Mormons - this is certainly not considered official doctrine)
Posted by Irene in Beaverton, OR on Tue Jan 15, 2008 at 10:54 PM
As for me, this Mormon thinks that Bigfoot is more than likely a nearly extinct North American primate. If he exists at all.
(And thanks for clarifying "some" Mormons - this is certainly not considered official doctrine)
This stuff makes me laugh. Don't any "believers" ever ask themselves why a biblical character like Cain, would be wandering exclusively around the US in the guise of Bigfoot.
Posted by Bob in Cyprus on Wed Jan 16, 2008 at 02:37 AM
"This stuff makes me laugh. Don't any "believers" ever ask themselves why a biblical character like Cain, would be wandering exclusively around the US in the guise of Bigfoot."
No, he goes to the Himilayas on occasion, where he's known as the Yeti.
Now what airline he takes for the trans-oceanic flight is still up for debate
Posted by artemiss in s dying midwestern town on Wed Jan 16, 2008 at 05:22 PM
No, he goes to the Himilayas on occasion, where he's known as the Yeti.
Now what airline he takes for the trans-oceanic flight is still up for debate
I bet he gets a good rate on TED.
Posted by Maegan in Tampa, FL - USA on Wed Jan 16, 2008 at 07:31 PM
....and I hypothesize that Fairies are actually the ofspring of the high empress Dragoon Fairchurch, founder of the little known religion of the forest people.
Posted by meme on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 03:28 AM
I know Bigfoot personally, and believe me, he's neither Cain nor Abel, nor any other figure mentioned in the Bible(s). He's just a ramblin' guy, sorta shy but when he parties, he's really fly. He rap-riffs pretty damn well, too. Better than me, you betcha. Word
Posted by Hairy Houdini on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 12:15 PM
Oh, absolutely...the truth at last! I've spent all my life wondering what Bigfoot really was and where Cain finally wound up. Now I know and the truth has set me free.
Thank you, oh infallible Church of LDS.
Christ.................!
Posted by Dee Ann in Ft. Lauderdale, FL on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 01:25 PM
Thank you, oh infallible Church of LDS.
Christ.................!
The peoples of The Land Of My Birth also have the theory about the Big Foot, and we say he is Lost Santa Claus. Maybe some day Rudolf will find him and they can give Raoul the present he asked for many the years ago. Little Raoul was very sad, and some have said that is why I, Raoul, The Psychic Gangster of Love, do what I must do, to fill the gaping hole in my broken heart. That is Raoul's cure for all things sad: fill the gaping holes, you know? Hah ha ha, I am sorry, but you deserved that, you Wendigo. Rrrraoul
Posted by Raoul on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 05:42 PM
Speaking of Latter-Day Saints, I hear Mitt Romney finally won a state primary race. It seems he mobilized the "Christian Right" voters to his cause when he promised to support a Constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and at least four women.
Posted by Big Gary in North Zulch, Texas on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 06:12 PM
Warning! that link above by xiaoxiaoyangzi is some bad mojo that's been popping up on forums lately. It's just a list of links that can do some nasty stuff if they're clicked on!
Alex, you might want to delete that one. (This one too, since it won't make any sense after the other one's gone)
Posted by Captain DaFt on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 11:05 PM
Alex, you might want to delete that one. (This one too, since it won't make any sense after the other one's gone)
I'll leave yours, Captain DaFt. That way you can hold onto your reputation for DaFtness.
Posted by Charybdis in Hell on Fri Jan 18, 2008 at 07:16 AM
Now, I am no Biblical Scholar, but as I am an atheist I guess it don't matter all that much.
If I read the story right, Cain is not the embodiment of evil. God is. He set Cain up to fail. He made him into a grain farmer, and then when Cain made the sacrifice of the only thing he had to sacrifice, it displeased God. If I was one of only two farmers and the other one pleased God, I would probably get insanely jealous, too.
How could Cain be the "Embodiment of Evil?" I would bet that Abel must have been a smarmy son of a bitch who could do no wrong.
Posted by Mike Haubrich, FCD in Minnesota on Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 08:18 AM
If I read the story right, Cain is not the embodiment of evil. God is. He set Cain up to fail. He made him into a grain farmer, and then when Cain made the sacrifice of the only thing he had to sacrifice, it displeased God. If I was one of only two farmers and the other one pleased God, I would probably get insanely jealous, too.
How could Cain be the "Embodiment of Evil?" I would bet that Abel must have been a smarmy son of a bitch who could do no wrong.
You missed the point of the fable Mike, Abel chose the best of his flock to sacrifice, Cain withheld the best.
(The larger point being that the priestly class wanted the best of your stuff without having to do a damn thing for it, but that's a rant for another day.)
Posted by Joe on Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 11:24 PM
(The larger point being that the priestly class wanted the best of your stuff without having to do a damn thing for it, but that's a rant for another day.)
since
I always thought I was Cain. I'm not a Sasquach. Really. I think these Mormons are wrong.
Posted by Reverend Po on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 08:15 PM
I always thought I was Cain. I'm not a Sasquach. Really. I think these Mormons are wrong.
I think that it is possible the they are relatives of cain. Why have so many seen big foot? Why have there never been stories about big foot attacking anyone? When do we not have actuall proff one way or the other. I think that god protects them and shelters them from harm and that he will not let them harm us. There has got to be more to this than we know
Posted by Cristy in Postfalls, id on Mon Jul 07, 2008 at 10:49 AM
I'm LDS and I'm of the opinion that there is only one "bigfoot" creature and it is actually Cain. I think the reason bigfoot is so hard to view is because he is a "vagabond" as the book Genesis describes. So, if it is Cain and he is bigfoot and he is a vagabond then I just assume that everything I have read about bigfoot, the abominable snowman, etc. are talking about one creature. He is intellegent, he travels by foot all over the world therefore he is known by many inhabitants of this earth throughout time. I'm not a scientist but this version correlates with Patten's experience and the scarcity of contacts. Also, I'm assuming Patten is telling the truth. I'm a convert Mormon and became a LDS when I was 30 and at that age I was way done with lying amongst other things. Not that I'm perfect or any other Mormon is perfect but as a people we do not lie! - Cyndi
Posted by Cyndi in CA on Thu Aug 07, 2008 at 12:34 AM
This article seems to make it seem as though it is the Mormon belief that Cain is Bigfoot. This is not so.
The fact that a few members of the church have speculated the possibility does not in any way make it Mormon doctrine or even popular belief.
I just wanted to make that clear.
Although it seems possible (albeit strange), I don't believe it, and I actually laughed out loud when I read the reference to the snake in Eden.
Posted by Derek in UT on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 02:45 PM
The fact that a few members of the church have speculated the possibility does not in any way make it Mormon doctrine or even popular belief.
I just wanted to make that clear.
Although it seems possible (albeit strange), I don't believe it, and I actually laughed out loud when I read the reference to the snake in Eden.
The story about David Patten can be found in a little known LDS book called "The Miracle of Forgiveness" by a little known LDS author named Spencer W. Kimball.
It's so interesting how willing people are to dive into a battle of wits, unarmed.
Posted by Scott Compton in Austin, TX on Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 02:23 PM
It's so interesting how willing people are to dive into a battle of wits, unarmed.
Let's please remember that this is not Doctrine.
It is what some people think or believe Mormon and non-Mormon.
Stop trying to put some people's theories into actual Mormon belief and doctrine.
Posted by brad in WA on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 12:38 PM
It is what some people think or believe Mormon and non-Mormon.
Stop trying to put some people's theories into actual Mormon belief and doctrine.
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