Ancient Secrets Revealed

Transcendentalism is a group of ideas in the areas of literature, religion, culture and philosophy.  It started out as a way to protest the culture and society in early to mid 16th century New England.

The main beliefs of transcendentalism are that the ideal spiritual state goes beyond the physical and can only be recognized by a person through their intuition not through religion.

Ralph Waldo Emerson was a major player in transcendentalism.  He wrote an essay in 1836 which really kicked off the transcendentalism movement.  This essay, “The American Scholar”, was really a call to people to abandon the society of the time and start living in a better way.

Transcendentalism may be either a group goal or an individual movement, depending on the person and how they look at the concept.  Some believe transcendentalism is a group effort to change the world, while others think it is an individual path to enlightenment.

Transcendentalism is rooted in the philosophies of Immanuel Kant.  These philosophies embraced the true spiritual nature of life.  It taught the ability to find spiritualism from within instead of through organized religious teachings.

At the time of its birth, the New England area was very rigid in strict religious beliefs that had followed the new settlers to America from England.  The harsh teachings left little to the individual.  Transcendentalism’s intent was to take spirituality out of the hands of the church and give it back to the people.

It allowed for a person to shape their own beliefs and to make their own decisions about their spirituality.  It also rebuffed the major ideas of the time that shaped the culture and society.

Transcendentalism was a lot like a rebellion.  Although it was a peaceful rebellion it still made an impact.  Through those early transcendentalists we have the roots of many religions that have grown to exist outside of the old, traditional religions.

Transcendentalism may be credited with helping people see that religion and spirituality are personal between the soul and the higher power.  No longer did people believe that they had to learn from others what their spiritual existence meant or was about.

Transcendentalism came from a mixed batch of religions to combine the most individualistic ideals.  It shaped a philosophy that really defied the main religions of the time.  Today, though, transcendentalism is something that would be welcomed as this world has grown to accept new thoughts and ideas related to religion and spirituality.