Transcendentalism In Today's Society

Theories and philosophies pertaining to life are what history and the future are constructed of. The philosophical movement of transcendentalism is centered around the belief of discovering principles of reality through spiritual understanding; obtained by going beyond everyday experiences. The main characteristics of the movement, including, nonconformity, the importance of nature, and free thought, encourages many aspects of life today.The ideas of transcendentalism helped diversify today's society, and revolutionized the way people view the world.

In American history, several activists portrayed transcendental qualities which assisted in the development of today’s society. Martin Luther King Junior took a stand against popular belief and

While this era has helped improve several aspects of the world, it has also harmed a significant element in today’s society. The emerging generations are losing their connections with the natural world. A few decades ago, kids would have fun by playing outside with each other. Nowadays, parents buy their children handheld devices to provide entertainment, and fail to see how harmful they can be to a child’s health. Children lose the idea of what it means to have fun, and rely on a material possession for what should be coming from natural means. Statistics have shown the results of a lack of physical activity in a growing child is detrimental to their adult lives. Being active and in touch with nature provides a healthy lifestyle, and should be added to everyone’s routine. Moreover, obesity is a dilemma within the United States, and is a concern for a large portion of the population. More than one-third of adults in the United States are considered obese. The causes for such a statistic can all lead to losing touch with nature. Whether it is processed foods, transportation, or technology, they all stem from the idea of separating from nature. The more progressive the world becomes, the farther the relationship with the environment decays. Creating food through unnatural processes are harmful in the long run. The nature of man is to be outside and live in harmony with the Earth.

Each and every person is different from one another, without variations within the population, society would be plain and monotonous. The original settlers of the United States believed in different concepts than those of the Church of England. Separatists, or Pilgrims, sought religious freedoms in the New World because of a lack of representation in the Church. Their ideas were ignored, thus angering the group. Their opinions on important religious matters did not sway the Church’s stubborn policies, however, this resulted in the settlement of North America. Without their contrasting views of religion, the foundation of the United States may have never been established. Similarly, Roger Williams played a prominent role in the building of colonial America. He was a Puritan settler that thought freely against religious ideals of the time. The Puritans were a group of people that did not allow differentiating thoughts concerning their religion, Roger Williams spoke out against what he believed to be wrong and suffered consequences. He was banished from the colony, however, he proceeded to establish his own. He settled Rhode Island, which was a safe haven for religious minorities and allowed the practice of different religions. Without his dissent from the Puritans, the American colonies may have never allowed the freedom of religion. Personal thoughts are one of the main distinguishing factors in people. The human