Julie Borrego
English 48A
Journal for Ralph Waldo Emerson

"A man must consider what a blindman's bluff is this game of conformity" (Norton 1167)

"Emerson has special talents unequalled. The divine in man has had no more easy, methodically distinct expression. His personal influence upon young persons greater than any man's. In his world every man would be a poet, Love would reign, Beauty would take place, Man and Nature would harmonize."(Henry David Thoreau, Journal, Undated 1845-47. )

Summary:
Emerson is speaking of following blindly to a religion that is rooted in old traditions.

My Ideas:
While I read Emerson's biography regarding his sudden change in faith. How because of the loss of his wife made him rethink and question the church altogether. I understand that notion completely. As a young adult I had always questions religion. I was not raised in a religious family, but I was baptized Catholic. When my Grandmother died unexpectedly, whom I was closer to than my own mother I started searching for answers, so I thought I would find them in religion. I researched all types of religions with no real concrete explanations. They said that if I was a good Christian I would be able to see my Grandmother in the end. But I wanted proof, I wanted a something a sign because if I’m going to church on Sunday and dealing with the hypocrisy of the church, by god I wanted truth that I was going to see my Grandmother again.
But my life changed the day my brother Died of AIDS. Watching my brother who no longer looked like himself, take his last breath was one of the most life altering experiences of my life. I asked myself that day how could this happen, why did he suffer so much, where was God now. Now I was on the fence I started even questioning if there was a god altogether instead of just questioning religion. Then most recently, my Husband I have experience something in the last month that has sealed the deal for me. I have asked myself, why have Jehovah, Heavenly Father, and God etc, allowed this to happen. Reading “Self-Reliance” is appropriate for the time in my life now. What I took away from Emerson was that he was spiritual, just not religious and I relate to that theology so much more than having the obligation of going to church every Sunday and feeling like you’re a bad Christian if you miss a day. That putting your faith in something that will let you down is a waste of time. Trust yourself and your own Ideas as the truth. Do not allow an institution to dictate if your thought and ideas are correct.