Christianity And Transcendentalism: Emerson And Henry David Thoreau

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Recommended: Emerson's essay on nature

Alyssa Lynch
Mr. McDorman
English 11, Per. B
29 January 2018
Christianity and Transcendentalism
Transcendentalism was a movement in philosophy, literature, and religion that blossomed in the nineteenth century New England with the help of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Both of these men were transcendentalists who expressed their beliefs through writings, poems, and essays. They went out of their way to express, these beliefs to the society they lived in. Transcendentalism involves the relationship between ones self and the world at large. They believed that each individual was the center of their own reality that could only be understood by withdrawing into ones own thoughts and deciding what is truth and law. In his essay “Nature”, …show more content…

The essay “Self-Reliance” is one of his most famous works. Emerson’s main point he is asserting is the importance of thinking for oneself rather than accepting other people’s ideas. If one relies on others judgments, they are a coward without inspiration or hope. People who rely on the opinions of others lack the creative power necessary to be a strong individual. He places the highest value on man’s own thoughts regarding his own existence. Emerson states in “Self-Reliance” that “nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind”. 1 Corinthians 2:44 says that the things of the Spirit are foolishness to the natural man. Man’s natural mind cannot understand sacred or holy things unless they are revealed by the Holy Spirit, not …show more content…

He was an American transcendentalist who wrote purely on what he believed based on his own experiences. He was born in Concord, Massachusetts on July 12, 1817. In 1837, Thoreau graduated from Harvard College. After college, he became friends with Ralph Waldo Emerson and Emerson introduced transcendentalism to him. Thoreau built a small home on Emerson’s land on Walden Pond. After moving to the property he wrote “Walden” inspired by the insight and teaching Emerson gave him regarding his philosophies. Thoreau had a different way of viewing humanity and religion. “Walden” was written to document his years spent living at Walden Pond. He expressed his ideas on simplicity and the individual nature of humanity. He also wrote “Civil Disobedience”, which was a means of educating people on why they should not settle for a less than perfect government. Thoreau goes on to claim that if an individual believes a law to be unjust, he should not obey the law. He believes that the government should be based on conscience and that citizens should refuse to follow the law. Romans 13:1-7 says that since God has ordained government authority for ones good, they must subject themselves to the

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