Can We Find Our Own Way to God?

Transcendentalism Is Not The Way

Image by Gerd Altmann , Andrew Martin from Pixabay Edited By Otto Brinkmeier

This post is a response to an article written by Bethany Verrett
Found on Bible Study Tools to Quote:

"The search for answers to big questions led humanity to develop theories and ideas about the metaphysical nature of existence. Metaphysics is part of philosophy that deals with abstract concepts like what it means to be, how to know something, and what constitutes identity.

Certain ideas have come together to create a worldview that gains popularity, and manifests itself in the classroom, in art, music, and in theological debates. One such movement that gained traction in the 19th century was the Transcendentalist movement.

The core tenets of this philosophy was that divinity is in all nature and humanity, and it emphasized a progressive view of time. Some of the great artistic movements of that century found their origins in this philosophical movement. Transcendentalism is a movement defined by a focus on the natural world, emphasis in individualism, and an idealized perspective of human nature.

While there is some overlap with Christian values and the art from this movement provided value to the arts, its eastern influences and deistic outlook means much of the thoughts in the movement are not in alignment with the Bible."

What Is Transcendentalism? 

Transcendentalism is a philosophical movement that developed in the late 1820s and 1830s in the eastern United States. A core belief is in the inherent goodness of people and nature, and while society and its institutions have corrupted the purity of the individual, people are at their best when truly "self-reliant" and independent.

Transcendentalism emphasizes subjective intuition over objective empiricism. Adherents believe that individuals are capable of generating completely original insights with little attention and deference to past masters. It arose as a reaction, to protest against the general state of intellectualism and spirituality at the time. The doctrine of the Unitarian church as taught at Harvard Divinity School was closely related.

Transcendentalism emerged from "English and German Romanticism, the Biblical criticism of Johann Gottfried Herder and Friedrich Schleiermacher, the skepticism of David Hume", and the transcendental philosophy of Immanuel Kant and German Idealism. Miller and Versluis regard Emanuel Swedenborg and Jakob Böhme as pervasive influences on transcendentalism. It was also strongly influenced by Hindu texts on philosophy of the mind and spirituality, especially the Upanishads.

What Does This Philosophy Think of God?

Not Much...Perhaps some of them did, to a limited degree, a small minority did.

Since transcendentalists embraced free-thinking and individual thought, it comes as no surprise that they attributed little thought on God, since they were prominent thinkers, different figures had varying thoughts about God, which makes this fact: "their belief that man does not need a mediator to speak to God"
come as no surprise.

Some of these transcendentalists studied the Bible for themselves, while others rejected it for what they could detect in nature.

But what does the Bible say 

The Apostle Paul wrote, in (Romans 1:20). 

New International Version

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

New Living Translation

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

English Standard Version

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Berean Study Bible

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.

Berean Literal Bible

For from the creation of the world His invisible qualities, both His eternal power and divinity, are clearly seen, being understood by the things made, for them to be without excuse.

New American Standard Bible

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

New King James Version

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

King James Bible

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

It is not wrong to say one can see God in nature, but one should not worship it, nor should it be the only source of knowledge about God.

Is Transcendentalism Biblical?

Not regarding the Whole Council of God, bits and pieces perhaps.
But taking bits and pieces from the Bible, to substantiate a personal belief is folly.

While a small number of Transcendentalists believed that salvation from Jesus Christ was essential for salvation, not all of them did. Over time, this philosophy began to embrace the belief that good people can go to Heaven, if they sincerely believe in any religion that encourages them to be morally upright.

However, Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). The only way to be saved from sin and be with God in eternity in Heaven is through Jesus Christ.

Are People Truly Good?

Verses about the inherent wickedness of man include:

- Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”

- Romans 3:10-12 “as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

- Ecclesiastes 7:20 “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.”

- Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned — every one — to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Click Here 👉 For A Detailed Look At Why All People Are Sinners 👈 

Sources

Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcendentalism

Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer and editor.
She maintains a faith and lifestyle blog graceandgrowing.com, where she muses about the Lord, life, culture, and ministry.