I've begun reading Henry David Thoreau's "Walden" and decided to take a brief look into transcendentalism.
I never heard of it until I was a teenager watching the 1990's version of "Little Women," where Jo speaks of it with Prof. Bhaer. He then speaks of German philosophers and Jo begrudgingly states that she's "hopelessly flawed" suggesting her failure in the transcendentalist movement.
As I read some bulleted paragraphs on the basics of transcendentalism in comparison with Catholicism, I couldn't help but see just how American Evangelical it is! While my mother would likely knock it is leftist woke nonsense and not at all Christian, it does read very much like her beliefs:
Source of Truth: Transcendentalists rely on intuition and personal experience. Catholics rely on Scripture and Apostolic Tradition.
Nature of God: Transcendentalism often views God as an impersonal, all-encompassing spirit within all things. Catholicism views God as a personal creator distinct from creation.
Individual vs. Authority: Transcendentalists reject institutional authority.
Catholicism is a hierarchical Church with defined dogma.
Sin and Divinity: Transcendentalists believe in the innate goodness of humanity and the "divine equality of each soul". Catholicism teaches the doctrine of Original Sin, requiring redemption through Christ.
The last one doesn't fit evangelicalism, in general, in that the evangelicalism I was exposed to was far more Calvinistic in that we're all worms and slime and God can't stand to even look at us except through Jesus. I was even taught that we're so gross to God that the only reason we're allowed in Heaven is because Jesus stands between us so God only sees His beloved Son and not us.
However, the more I read about transcendentalism, the more I see modern American non-denominational evangelicalism. (I was conservative Assemblies of God leaning into Christian fundamentalism).
The article goes on to say:
Both seek a spiritual connection that transcends mundane material life.
Both focus on the importance of the internal life.
In summary, Transcendentalism is individualistic and subjective, while Catholicism is community-based and doctrinal.
I think this last part is where my own crossroads are with the idea. I think it is because I've always had a private and separated interior life from the noise of whatever communal, exterior faith I practiced, and the rugged, but morally-and-Truth-driven individualism I feel deep inside me is what helped me overcome the anti-Catholicism I grew up within and become Catholic.
Perhaps this is also emphasized because my family does not share my faith with me.
I also grew up with a bit of that old German philosophy, some of that stern stoicism and "if you want something done you have to do it yourself" attitude. Added to that is the rural Upstate NY grit and stubbornness.
The tremendous peace I feel when I walk into the woods and consider life so extremely simplified, which is an odd thing to think about now that my life will be changing rather drastically in just a week. I will have to join the rat-race and be a modern woman in a modern world.
Maybe it is because before my conversion to Catholicism, I knew I had to make a decision, and I knew I would either have to embrace Catholicism fully and forever, or become a sort of transcendental philosophical "none Christian." But, I also knew that if I didn't embrace a communal and dogmatic faith that was proving itself to be True, while I wouldn't give up my belief in Christ, I was in danger of treading down very compromised paths.
It doesn't seem that the Church allows much space for a sort of "transcendental Catholicism." I'll have to tread carefully where these roads meet in my own mind. Perhaps I should veer towards learning more about the interior life, the contemplative life.
