John Truscott Elson (April 29, 1931 – September 7, 2009) was a religion editor and writer who eventually became the assistant managing editor of Time. He is most remembered for his provocative April 1966 cover story for which the magazine's cover simply asked, "Is God Dead?"
Elson entered the United States Air Force Reserve in August 1954 as a second lieutenant and served for two years.[2] He was initially stationed at Parks Air Force Base in California and later was in Japan. He became a reporter for the Canadian Press news agency. He was hired at Time and worked initially in the Detroit bureau. In 1967, he became a senior editor in charge of the sections for religion, theatre, cinema and education.[3] He remained at Time in 1987 and eventually held the position of assistant managing editor.[1]
1966 cover story: "Is God Dead?"edit
He was the religion editor at Time magazine who famously asked, "Is God Dead?" Elson posed the questions in a cover story for the April 8, 1966 issue of Time. For the first time in the magazine's 43-year history, the cover featured no photograph or illustration. Instead, the cover showed blood-red letters against a black background posing Elson's question, "Is God Dead?"[1][4]The New York Times has called the cover "a signpost of the 1960s, testimony to the wrenching social changes transforming the United States."[1]
Though Elson is most remembered for the "Is God Dead?" cover, it was one of many stories he wrote for the publication on the subject of religion. Indeed, he had written nine previous cover stories on religious issues for Time.[1]
Reaction to the storyedit
Elson's cover story provoked extensive discussion. The issue drew Time's biggest newsstand sales in more than 20 years. The publisher received 3,500 letters—the most in the magazine's history to that point.[1] The Chicago Sun Times referred to it as "a debate that had shocked and confused millions of devout Americans."[5] One syndicated columnist, Jim Bishop, responded angrily to the article, pointing out that a recent Harris Poll showed that 97% of all American claim to believe in God. Bishop suggested the editors at Time had an incorrect view of God: "I would guess that the editors think that, if God is still out there, He should alter His image a little, become a hipster, stop dragging His sandals and start snapping His fingers in a Go-Go world."[6]
In a May 1966 address, the pastor of the National Presbyterian Church of Washington, D.C. disputed the "God is Dead" theory, saying advocating the theory were a small group that had plunged "into the depths of existential despair."[7] The pastor further noted, "One is moved to ask whether the reporters were sufficiently well acquainted with the deceased as to be able to identify the corpse."[7]
Deathedit
On September 7, 2009, Elson died at home in Manhattan. He was survived by his wife, the former Rosemary Knorr, and two daughters.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefgWilliam Grimes (2009-09-17). "John T. Elson, Editor Who Asked 'Is God Dead?' at Time, Dies at 78". The New York Times.
^"Journalists To Marry In New York", The Vancouver News-Herald, Vancouver, Canada, volume 22, number 85, August 3, 1954, page 11. (subscription required)
^"Canadian Names Magazine Editor", The Sun, Vancouver, British Columbia, volume LXXXI, number 110, February 7, 1967, page 11.
^. Time. 1966-04-08. Archived from the original on December 11, 2006.
^"God is Dead doctrine revisited". Manhattan Mercury (reprinted from Chicago Sun Times). 1974-10-04.
^ ab"Pastor Challenges 'Dead' God Theory". The News, Frederick, Maryland (AP story). 1966-05-15.
January 01, 1970
john, elson, john, truscott, elson, april, 1931, september, 2009, religion, editor, writer, eventually, became, assistant, managing, editor, time, most, remembered, provocative, april, 1966, cover, story, which, magazine, cover, simply, asked, dead, born, 1931. John Truscott Elson April 29 1931 September 7 2009 was a religion editor and writer who eventually became the assistant managing editor of Time He is most remembered for his provocative April 1966 cover story for which the magazine s cover simply asked Is God Dead John T ElsonBorn 1931 04 29 April 29 1931Vancouver British Columbia CanadaDiedSeptember 7 2009 2009 09 07 aged 78 Manhattan New York U S Occupation s Religion writer and editorParentRobert T Elson Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early years 1 2 1966 cover story Is God Dead 1 3 Reaction to the story 2 Death 3 ReferencesBiography editEarly years edit Born in Vancouver British Columbia Elson was the son of Robert T Elson a newspaper reporter who became an editor at Time and Life He attended St Anselm s Abbey School then known as the Priory School in Washington D C and received an undergraduate degree from University of Notre Dame in 1953 He also received a master s degree in English from Columbia University in 1954 1 Elson entered the United States Air Force Reserve in August 1954 as a second lieutenant and served for two years 2 He was initially stationed at Parks Air Force Base in California and later was in Japan He became a reporter for the Canadian Press news agency He was hired at Time and worked initially in the Detroit bureau In 1967 he became a senior editor in charge of the sections for religion theatre cinema and education 3 He remained at Time in 1987 and eventually held the position of assistant managing editor 1 1966 cover story Is God Dead edit He was the religion editor at Time magazine who famously asked Is God Dead Elson posed the questions in a cover story for the April 8 1966 issue of Time For the first time in the magazine s 43 year history the cover featured no photograph or illustration Instead the cover showed blood red letters against a black background posing Elson s question Is God Dead 1 4 The New York Times has called the cover a signpost of the 1960s testimony to the wrenching social changes transforming the United States 1 Though Elson is most remembered for the Is God Dead cover it was one of many stories he wrote for the publication on the subject of religion Indeed he had written nine previous cover stories on religious issues for Time 1 Reaction to the story edit Elson s cover story provoked extensive discussion The issue drew Time s biggest newsstand sales in more than 20 years The publisher received 3 500 letters the most in the magazine s history to that point 1 The Chicago Sun Times referred to it as a debate that had shocked and confused millions of devout Americans 5 One syndicated columnist Jim Bishop responded angrily to the article pointing out that a recent Harris Poll showed that 97 of all American claim to believe in God Bishop suggested the editors at Time had an incorrect view of God I would guess that the editors think that if God is still out there He should alter His image a little become a hipster stop dragging His sandals and start snapping His fingers in a Go Go world 6 In a May 1966 address the pastor of the National Presbyterian Church of Washington D C disputed the God is Dead theory saying advocating the theory were a small group that had plunged into the depths of existential despair 7 The pastor further noted One is moved to ask whether the reporters were sufficiently well acquainted with the deceased as to be able to identify the corpse 7 Death editOn September 7 2009 Elson died at home in Manhattan He was survived by his wife the former Rosemary Knorr and two daughters 1 References edit a b c d e f g William Grimes 2009 09 17 John T Elson Editor Who Asked Is God Dead at Time Dies at 78 The New York Times Journalists To Marry In New York The Vancouver News Herald Vancouver Canada volume 22 number 85 August 3 1954 page 11 subscription required Canadian Names Magazine Editor The Sun Vancouver British Columbia volume LXXXI number 110 February 7 1967 page 11 Theology Toward a Hidden God Time 1966 04 08 Archived from the original on December 11 2006 God is Dead doctrine revisited Manhattan Mercury reprinted from Chicago Sun Times 1974 10 04 Jim Bishop 1966 04 15 God Is Man s Teddy Bear Indiana Pennsylvania Evening Gazette a b Pastor Challenges Dead God Theory The News Frederick Maryland AP story 1966 05 15 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John T Elson amp oldid 1136032815, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
