The Transcendent Life & Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Transcendentalism, as viewed by its disciples, was a pilgrimage from the idolatrous world of creeds and rituals to the temple of the Living God in the soul. It was a putting to silence of tradition and formulas, that the Sacred Oracle might be heard through intuitions of the single-eyed and pure-hearted."

William Henry Channing

PRACTICAL SPIRITUALITY 208

January 19, 2006

Thursday Evening

5:30 - 7:30 Pacific Time

Eight Sessions: 1 RSI Credit

1.33 Emerson Credits

Tuition: $125.00

Ebook: $10.00

In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, in his 1842 lecture The Transcendentalist:

"The Transcendentalist adopts the whole connection of spiritual doctrine. He believes in miracle, in the perpetual openness of the human mind to new influx of light and power; he believes in inspiration, and in ecstasy. He wishes that the spiritual principle should be suffered to demonstrate itself to the end, in all possible applications to the state of man, without the admission of anything unspiritual; that is, anything positive, dogmatic, personal. Thus, the spiritual measure of inspiration is the depth of the thought, and never, who said it! And so he resists all attempts to palm other rules and measures on the spirit than its own...."

This course will cover significant essays and sermons by Emerson as well as commentary and sermons by Emerson scholars and writings from those who knew him. Did anyone ever tell you that Emerson was a reformer? Did you ever stop to think that Emerson might be one of those "be the change you wish to see in the world" people? Find out more about Emerson with us as the New Year begins.

SOM 208: Emerson's Essays and the Transcendental Movement

Ralph Waldo Emerson was the most quoted, most inspirational writer in America for over a hundred years. His concept of American Voice, of Self-Reliance, and of The Oversoul have influenced the New Thought movement profoundly. He is quoted by all the great metaphysical writers and he was the first to break through traditional Christianity in such a way as to inspire multitudes to higher thought. Background information on Emerson's times and his fellow members of the Transcendentalist circle is covered. They include Bronson Alcott, Margaret Fuller, Henry David Thoreau, and Walt Whitman.

Required Texts:

Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson With Introduction by Irwin Edman, First and Second Series Complete in One Volume
The Dictionary of New Thought Terms, Ernest Holmes, currently published as: The Ernest Holmes Dictionary of New Thought: Your Pocket Guidebook To Religious Science
The Science of Mind, Ernest Holmes

Emerson Online Studies
Contact Information: Dr. Susanne Freeborn, Director E-Mail: Dr.Susanne@EmersonOnlineStudies.org Telephone: 360-671-5959 Fax: 360-671-5985 Mailing Address: 1645 Pebble Beach Trail, Bellingham, WA 98226	Book Resources: DeVorss & Co. 1-800-843-5743 or www.devorss.com You can locate good inexpensive used copies of many books we use through: http://www.addall.com/Used/ Registration Form Scholarship Opportunities