Ralph Waldo Emerson's 'The Divinity School Address'

Nancy Emerson lived in Augusta County, Virginia as a Confederate supporter for the complete duration of the American Civil War. Her diary, which spans from May of 1862 to November of 1864, provides a detailed and nuanced account of the life of a white, middle classed, Christian, woman living in the Civil War era. Religion influenced a multitude of Emerson’s beliefs; from her dogged support of the Confederacy to her belief that God would ensure a Southern victory.

The American Enlightenment and the Great Awakening were two very important motivators that changed the colonial society in America through religious beliefs, educational values, and the right to live one’s life according to each individual’s preference.

Science, reason, and observation of the physical world confirmed Jonathan Edwards 's deeply spiritual vision of a universe filled with the presence of God. Groomed to succeed his grandfather as pastor of the Congregational Church in Northampton, Massachusetts, Edwards entered Yale when he was only thirteen. Edwards 's formidable presence and vivid sermons helped to bring about the religious revival known as the Great Awakening . Intellectually, Edwards straddled two ages: the modern, secular world exemplified by such men as Benjamin Franklin, and the religious world of his zealous Puritan ancestors. The upholding power that a belief has, as an accessory Edward’s “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”,”

While McDowell’s attempts in refuting opposing theories were remarkable and logical, a fairer presentation of both sides of the arena is somewhat lacking. The author’s tendency to be slightly morally condescending in his various anecdotes also puts a small hiccup in an otherwise smooth, intellectual ride.

The Great Awakening and the Enlightenment (Deism) were both important in shaping the religious, political, and social lives of Americans. However, the revivals of the Great Awakening were able to reach more of the population and therefore gave voices to those previously uncounted.

Jonathan Edwards was a critical thinker in shaping the First Great Awakening and did this through his congregation in Northampton in New England.

As well as unitarianism, a type of belief that arose the search for inherent goodness in people and embrace reason over scripture. Universalism also came about during this period which was, the belief in salvation for all people not just a chosen few (Palmer). Some of these beliefs were able to meld with the other prominent religions at the time, however they also challenged their beliefs. The Second Great Awakening occurred as a result of the fear that secularism was on the rise and felt that these emerging beliefs had threatened their religions in some aspects (Palmer). During the Second Great Awakening, preachers would travel in an attempt to make salvation available to people in the frontier that did not have churches. Revival meetings often took place which helped unify the people through shared beliefs and gave opportunities for potential conversions for non-believers (Palmer). As a result of the Awakening, a strong desire to reform the nation arose. The Second Great Awakening saw the emergence of Transcendentalism, a philosophical movement that emphasised the dignity of the individual and the celebration of nature and life. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau are two well known transcendentalist authors who significantly influenced and encouraged non-conformity and for people to follow their own beliefs.

The American Revolution had been known for having no religious or spiritual beliefs. This mainly was due to the separation from the control of political leaders. A number of religious revivals swept through the US from the 1790s and continued on into the 1830s. During this period of time, there has been a transformation of religion throughout the different aspects of the country. Through its meetings being held and the number of people who had attended, the Second Great Awakening suggests that in order to gain member participation, there has to be a devoted style of preaching to its audience.

To those living in British America in the 1700’s, religion was a central fixture of everyday life. One’s denomination was intrinsically tied up in one’s ethnic and social identity, and local churches in the mid-Atlantic depended upon the participation and donations of their parishioners to survive. However, as the 18th century progressed, poorer farmers and ministers across the diverse sects of colonial America came to resent the domination of church life by the upper class. In a parallel development, a split had grown between the rationalists, who were typically wealthy, educated and influential men who represented the status quo, and the evangelicals, who disdained the impersonal pretention of the rationalists and promoted a spiritual and

In response to the long-standing philosophical question of immorality, many philosophers have posited the soul criterion, which asserts the soul constitutes personal identity and survives physical death. In The Myth of the Soul, Clarence Darrow rejects the existence of the soul in his case against the notion of immortality and an afterlife. His primary argument against the soul criterion is that no good explanation exists for how a soul enters a body, or when its beginning might occur. (Darrow 43) After first explicating Darrow 's view, I will present what I believe is its greatest shortcoming, an inconsistent use of the term soul, and argue that this weakness impacts the overall strength of his argument.

John Edward’s Sermon Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God is a piece of literature from colonial times. He is angrily addressing a group of puritan people and telling them that they should change their ways so that they will not go to hell. This sermon shows how religion

What remains the one saying that parents always tell their child? Get an education. Humans have heard it over and over again. One needs a good education to get anywhere in this world. The positive impact of education has proven as one of the most important factors for every human. In Chapter 4: “Education” of the book The Language of Composition by Renée H. Shea, different views on education become apparent. Moreover, our schools may not serve the goals of true education because of the way students participate in teachings, why and how the teachers teach, and the way the students get taught to comprehend information given to them.

Ralph Waldo Emerson and Walt Whitman emphasize the importance of living true to yourself and developing complete self-acceptance. To live a genuine life and completely accept who you are, you must understand your identity and your sense of self. In Self-Reliance, Emerson explains that your identity and your sense of self are spiritual. Whitman argues, in Song of Myself, that your identity and sense of self are based on both your soul and your body. While both Emerson and Whitman allow for intimate connections and friendships, Emerson encourages people to have relationships with a select few, whereas Whitman encourages people to connect with everyone and anyone, due to their different views of self.

A common questioning of a higher power beyond the physical realm lingers in society: Who and what is God?. However, many of these theological questions cannot be answered until we, of course, die. Due to human’s innate curiosity to understand the forces beyond their own, especially in terms of religion, humans find their own reasons to believe in God in the process of discovery. Religion is a sense of belief and worship to praise a higher power (God), and it provides a guide for human beings to have the opportunity to come together and live as one image of God’s children.

Transcendentalism flourished and emerged effectively during the 1800s mainly with the help of Ralph Waldo Emerson and other writers, artists, and reformers. As other Transcendentalists accepted that “the individual was at the center of the universe” (Wiswall para 1), Emerson as well explicated his beliefs through writings. During 1820s and 1830s, only a certain number of people comprehended the idea of Transcendentalism because it was complex (“The Emergence of Transcendentalism” para 1). Transcendentalism influenced Walt Whitman greatly as Transcendentalists represented transcendentalism to society. Therefore, in “Song of Myself,” Walt Whitman uses transcendental ideals to challenge Americans