ap ism transcendentalism b

TranscendentalismTranscendentalism

the spiritual unity the spiritual unity

of all forms of of all forms of

being, withbeing, with

God, Man, and God, Man, and

Nature all sharing Nature all sharing

a universal soul.a universal soul.

Microsoft Office Excel 2003.lnk

Rationalists vs. RomanticistsRationalists vs. Romanticists

Religious/Philosophical SnapshotReligious/Philosophical Snapshot

Calvinism

Transcendentalism

Be good because it feels good.Be good because it feels good.

Be good because Christian God Be good because Christian God wills it, and if we don’t God will wills it, and if we don’t God will punish us with eternal punish us with eternal damnation.damnation.

Be good because God is love, and Be good because God is love, and we are One with God when we are we are One with God when we are good and loving.good and loving.

"We believe in the authority of "We believe in the authority of reason and of conscience. The reason and of conscience. The ultimate arbiter in religion is not a ultimate arbiter in religion is not a church, or a document, or an church, or a document, or an official, but the personal choice official, but the personal choice and decision of the individual."and decision of the individual."

Deism

Be good because God gave us Be good because God gave us reason and free will to do that reason and free will to do that which makes common sense. It which makes common sense. It makes sense to be good. God makes sense to be good. God doesn’t get involved at all.doesn’t get involved at all.

Puritanism Universalism

Unitarianism

DeismDeism UU UU Transcendentalism TranscendentalismUnitarianismUnitarianism

Like the Deists, Units reject the Trinity (Father, Son, Like the Deists, Units reject the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost). Units believe in the “and Holy Ghost). Units believe in the “unityunity” of ” of God. God.

Like the Deists, Units stress rational thinking, each Like the Deists, Units stress rational thinking, each person's direct relationship with God, and the person's direct relationship with God, and the humanity of Jesus (not divinity).humanity of Jesus (not divinity).

Units have influenced American history, especially Units have influenced American history, especially in politics and literature. (Presidents John Adams in politics and literature. (Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams, Louisa May Alcott, Ralph and John Quincy Adams, Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Paul Revere, President William Waldo Emerson, Paul Revere, President William Howard Taft, and Frank Lloyd Wright.)Howard Taft, and Frank Lloyd Wright.)

Units have been around since Jesus’ crucifixion. Units have been around since Jesus’ crucifixion. Persecuted by religious majority in England in Persecuted by religious majority in England in 1600s. Unitarians fled to America and flourished.1600s. Unitarians fled to America and flourished.

Dominant religion in Boston.Dominant religion in Boston.

Promoted peace, education reform, prison reform, Promoted peace, education reform, prison reform, orphanages, capital punishment, moderation in orphanages, capital punishment, moderation in temperance, ministry to the poor, and the abolition temperance, ministry to the poor, and the abolition of slavery, tolerance, religious freedom, of slavery, tolerance, religious freedom, democracy, assistance to the disadvantaged.democracy, assistance to the disadvantaged.

UniversalismUniversalism Christians who believe in Christians who believe in universaluniversal

salvation—that a loving God couldn’t salvation—that a loving God couldn’t really punish anyone to hell for eternity. really punish anyone to hell for eternity. God’s grace and redemption were not God’s grace and redemption were not only for the few but for all.only for the few but for all.

Univs have influenced American history Univs have influenced American history (Clara Barton, Olympia Brown, Thomas (Clara Barton, Olympia Brown, Thomas Starr King, Horace Greeley, George Starr King, Horace Greeley, George Pullman, Mary Livermore, and Pullman, Mary Livermore, and Benjamin Rush.)Benjamin Rush.)

Univs have been around since Jesus’ Univs have been around since Jesus’ crucifixion. Persecuted by religious crucifixion. Persecuted by religious majority in England. Universalists fled majority in England. Universalists fled to America and flourished. to America and flourished.

Promoted public education, separation Promoted public education, separation of church and state, prison reform, of church and state, prison reform, capital punishment, the abolition of capital punishment, the abolition of slavery, and women's rights.slavery, and women's rights.

ConservativeConservative Christians oppose because if the fear of hell isn’t in you, then it Christians oppose because if the fear of hell isn’t in you, then it doesn’t matter what you do, and then you’re likely to live an immoral life.doesn’t matter what you do, and then you’re likely to live an immoral life.

Who Were the Transcendentalists?Who Were the Transcendentalists?

Naturalists and EnvironmentalistsNaturalists and Environmentalists. A . A generation that realized the Enlightenment had generation that realized the Enlightenment had come to new rational conclusions about the come to new rational conclusions about the natural world, mostly based on experimentation natural world, mostly based on experimentation and logical thinking. and logical thinking.

RebelsRebels. A generation, especially Harvard . A generation, especially Harvard youths, who learned from the rationalists that youths, who learned from the rationalists that rebellionrebellion could be a useful tool and who could be a useful tool and who decided that the revolutions had not gone far decided that the revolutions had not gone far enough, and had stayed too much in the rational enough, and had stayed too much in the rational mode. "Corpse-cold" Emerson called the mode. "Corpse-cold" Emerson called the previous generation of rational religion.previous generation of rational religion.


QuestionersQuestioners. A generation that believed that . A generation that believed that asking questions wasn’t the end but rather a asking questions wasn’t the end but rather a means to an end. Questions needed answers.means to an end. Questions needed answers.

A generation that asked itself: If God gave A generation that asked itself: If God gave humankind the gift of intuition, the gift of insight, humankind the gift of intuition, the gift of insight, the gift of inspiration, why waste such a gift?the gift of inspiration, why waste such a gift?

Spiritual Feasters.Spiritual Feasters. A generation that hungered A generation that hungered spiritually, giving rise to new evangelical spiritually, giving rise to new evangelical Christianity in some areas and in other areas Christianity in some areas and in other areas (especially around Boston) to an intuitive, (especially around Boston) to an intuitive, experiential, passionate, perspective. experiential, passionate, perspective.


Religion Religion EvaluatorsEvaluators. . A generation struggling to define spirituality A generation struggling to define spirituality

and religion in a way that took into account and religion in a way that took into account the new understandings their age made the new understandings their age made available. “Biblical Criticism” in Europe was available. “Biblical Criticism” in Europe was analyzing Christian and Jewish scriptures as analyzing Christian and Jewish scriptures as literature, raising questions for some about literature, raising questions for some about old assumptions of religion.old assumptions of religion.

A generation exposed to the texts of non-A generation exposed to the texts of non-Western cultures, such Hinduism and Western cultures, such Hinduism and Buddhism and consequently examined its Buddhism and consequently examined its own religious assumptions against these own religious assumptions against these scriptures.scriptures.


A generation that believed that a loving God A generation that believed that a loving God would not have led so much of humanity astray; would not have led so much of humanity astray; therefore, there must be truth in these therefore, there must be truth in these scriptures, too. scriptures, too.

Truth, if it agreed with an individual's intuition of Truth, if it agreed with an individual's intuition of truth, must be indeed truth.truth, must be indeed truth.


SmartSmart. a generation of well-educated people who lived in . a generation of well-educated people who lived in the decades before and helped to create the American the decades before and helped to create the American Civil War. Civil War.

Change AgentsChange Agents. a generation of mostly New . a generation of mostly New Englanders from around Boston who did their part to Englanders from around Boston who did their part to create a uniquely American body of literature. create a uniquely American body of literature.

They believed it was time for literary independence in the They believed it was time for literary independence in the same spirit as America had won national independence same spirit as America had won national independence from England.from England.

They deliberately went about creating literature, essays, They deliberately went about creating literature, essays, novels, philosophy, poetry, and other writing that were novels, philosophy, poetry, and other writing that were clearly different from anything from England, France, clearly different from anything from England, France, Germany, or any other European nation.Germany, or any other European nation.

Emerson’s Transcendental TripEmerson’s Transcendental Trip

Originally a Puritan Congregationalist congregation, Originally a Puritan Congregationalist congregation, First ParishFirst Parish evolved to Unitarianism. evolved to Unitarianism.

Reverend William Emerson (Ralph’s grandfather) Reverend William Emerson (Ralph’s grandfather) served as minister of First Parish from 1765 to 1776. served as minister of First Parish from 1765 to 1776.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) graduated from Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) graduated from Harvard with liberal Christian beliefs, but his thought Harvard with liberal Christian beliefs, but his thought quickly developed toward Deism with a twist: God quickly developed toward Deism with a twist: God was in each living being, and living beings all was in each living being, and living beings all together were the totality of God—in Emerson's together were the totality of God—in Emerson's words, the Oversoul.words, the Oversoul.

Emerson abandoned the pulpit to lecture and write Emerson abandoned the pulpit to lecture and write essays and poems. He left the church altogether, essays and poems. He left the church altogether, discouraged by its “dry, lifeless" preaching, but then discouraged by its “dry, lifeless" preaching, but then rejoined when a more lively minister was hired.rejoined when a more lively minister was hired.

Emerson taught that people need Emerson taught that people need notnot look to religious look to religious doctrine or precedent for spiritual guidance, but doctrine or precedent for spiritual guidance, but rather rather within themselveswithin themselves..

First Parish in ConcordFirst Parish in Concord (MA), Unitarian Universalist, (MA), Unitarian Universalist, where Emerson and Thoreau where Emerson and Thoreau went to church (when they went to church (when they still did).still did).

Thoreau’s Transcendental TripThoreau’s Transcendental Trip

Graduated from Harvard College in 1837, and taught for a bit.Graduated from Harvard College in 1837, and taught for a bit.

Befriended by Emerson who hired him as handyman and caretaker in Befriended by Emerson who hired him as handyman and caretaker in his house so that they could talk and so Thoreau would have some his house so that they could talk and so Thoreau would have some money and a quiet place to think and write.money and a quiet place to think and write.

Absorbed many of Emerson's ideas, but as a younger man without Absorbed many of Emerson's ideas, but as a younger man without fame or family responsibilities, he actually put them into practice. fame or family responsibilities, he actually put them into practice.

Built a tiny house on land owned by Emerson on the shore of Walden Built a tiny house on land owned by Emerson on the shore of Walden Pond, three miles from the center of Concord. Stayed at the pond for Pond, three miles from the center of Concord. Stayed at the pond for more than two years.more than two years.

Planted a bean field and lived off the beans and a variety of jobs. Planted a bean field and lived off the beans and a variety of jobs. Needed only a few hours' work per week to buy the few things he Needed only a few hours' work per week to buy the few things he needed. The rest of the time he spent observing and communing with needed. The rest of the time he spent observing and communing with nature, taking notes and writing.nature, taking notes and writing.

Published most famous work in 1854, Published most famous work in 1854, Walden, or Life in the WoodsWalden, or Life in the Woods, , and eventually made his reputation as an individualist, naturalist, and eventually made his reputation as an individualist, naturalist, conservationist, pacifist and proponent of Transcendentalism, the conservationist, pacifist and proponent of Transcendentalism, the spiritual philosophy developed and espoused by Emerson and his spiritual philosophy developed and espoused by Emerson and his circle.circle.

Inspired Inspired GandhiGandhi, and generations of conservationists, ecologists and , and generations of conservationists, ecologists and lovers of the outdoors.lovers of the outdoors.

What is Transcendentalism?What is Transcendentalism?

A loose collection of eclectic ideas about A loose collection of eclectic ideas about literature, philosophy, religion, and social reform literature, philosophy, religion, and social reform that had profound effects on American culture.that had profound effects on American culture.

Had different meanings for each person involved Had different meanings for each person involved in the movement, including those who attended in the movement, including those who attended the Transcendental Club. the Transcendental Club.

Hub of movement included cities of Concord and Hub of movement included cities of Concord and Boston in Massachusetts.Boston in Massachusetts.

Earned a reputation as a "collection of Earned a reputation as a "collection of miscellany" because such variety of thought is miscellany" because such variety of thought is built into the definition.built into the definition.

What is Transcendentalism?What is Transcendentalism?

Emerson and Thoreau admonished their Emerson and Thoreau admonished their audiences to audiences to go their own waygo their own way rather than rather than emulate the authors/speakers themselves. emulate the authors/speakers themselves.

Emerson declared he wanted no followers; it Emerson declared he wanted no followers; it would disappoint him if his ideas created would disappoint him if his ideas created hangers-on rather than "independence;" he hangers-on rather than "independence;" he would then doubt his own theories.would then doubt his own theories.

Individualism stems from listening to one's "inner Individualism stems from listening to one's "inner voice“voice“

One's life is guided by one's intuition; societal One's life is guided by one's intuition; societal leadership is not necessary nor desirable.leadership is not necessary nor desirable.

BeliefsBeliefs A realm of knowledge goes beyond or A realm of knowledge goes beyond or

transcendstranscends what we see/hear/learn from books. what we see/hear/learn from books.

Through Through intuition intuition we know the existence of our we know the existence of our own souls and their relation to a reality own souls and their relation to a reality beyondbeyond the physical world. the physical world.

Intuition, which Emerson called the “highest Intuition, which Emerson called the “highest power of the Soul,” is a power that “never power of the Soul,” is a power that “never reasons, never proves, it reasons, never proves, it simply perceivessimply perceives…”…”

Through the senses, we learn the facts and laws Through the senses, we learn the facts and laws of the physical world, and through our capacity of the physical world, and through our capacity to reason we learn to use this information, to reason we learn to use this information, creating, for instance, science and technology.creating, for instance, science and technology.

BeliefsBeliefs As they explored their inner spiritual life, the As they explored their inner spiritual life, the

transcendentalists found their deepest intuitions transcendentalists found their deepest intuitions confirmed by evidence of a similar spirit in nature. confirmed by evidence of a similar spirit in nature.

From this came the From this came the revolutionaryrevolutionary perception that is at perception that is at the heart of their writings: the heart of their writings: the spiritual unity of all the spiritual unity of all forms of being, with God, humanity, and nature forms of being, with God, humanity, and nature sharing a universal soul.sharing a universal soul.

Thus, by contemplating objects in nature, the individual Thus, by contemplating objects in nature, the individual can can TRANSCEND TRANSCEND this world and discover union with this world and discover union with God and the Ideal. The key innate quality used by the God and the Ideal. The key innate quality used by the individual to achieve this state is his individual to achieve this state is his INTUITIONINTUITION, an , an instinct granted to every soul at birth.instinct granted to every soul at birth.

BeliefsBeliefs The central idea of this philosophy is there is some The central idea of this philosophy is there is some

knowledge of reality, or truth, that man grasps knowledge of reality, or truth, that man grasps notnot through logic or the laws of science (alone), but through through logic or the laws of science (alone), but through the intuition of his divine intellect.the intuition of his divine intellect.

Each person should follow his own beliefs and ideas, Each person should follow his own beliefs and ideas, however divergenthowever divergent from the social norm they might be. from the social norm they might be.

Each person is inherently good (the antithesis to Each person is inherently good (the antithesis to Puritanism’s original sin), is capable of making his own Puritanism’s original sin), is capable of making his own decisions (versus social conformity), and is worthy of the decisions (versus social conformity), and is worthy of the respect of every other human being.respect of every other human being.

Thus, a person’s intuitive response to any given situation Thus, a person’s intuitive response to any given situation isis the correct response--at least for that person. the correct response--at least for that person.

Fight for Justice, FreedomFight for Justice, Freedom Transcendentalists largely believed that at the level of Transcendentalists largely believed that at the level of

the human soul, all people had access to divine the human soul, all people had access to divine inspiration and sought and loved freedom and inspiration and sought and loved freedom and knowledge and truth.knowledge and truth.

Thus, social institutions that fostered vast differences in Thus, social institutions that fostered vast differences in the ability to be educated and self-directed needed the ability to be educated and self-directed needed reform.reform.

Women and African-descended slaves were human Women and African-descended slaves were human beings who deserved more ability to become educated, beings who deserved more ability to become educated, to fulfill their human potential, to be fully human.to fulfill their human potential, to be fully human.

Emerson & Thoreau: Rebel SpiritsEmerson & Thoreau: Rebel Spirits

““Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist.”Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist.” ““Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was

misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood.”be misunderstood.”

Every society honors its live conformists, and its dead Every society honors its live conformists, and its dead troublemakers. ~Mignon McLaughlintroublemakers. ~Mignon McLaughlin

““All life is an experiment. The more experiments you All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.”make the better.”

““There are always two parties; the establishment and the There are always two parties; the establishment and the movement.”movement.”

A A transcendentalist transcendentalist would get a good would get a good laugh out of the laugh out of the

irony here.irony here.

Every generation laughs at theold fashions but follows religiously

the new.- Thoreau