Behind Transcendentalism

American Transcendentalism and Asian Religions
Arthur Versluis

Published in 1993, Arthur Versluis’ book, American Transcendentalism and Asian Religions, is the most recent analysis of the American literary movement of the nineteenth century and how it was influenced by Oriental philosophy. In the introduction he writes, “the Transcendentalist movement, both early and late, was a product of Unitarianism, Puritanism, and other currents of Western thought and also of contact with the world religions, especially Hinduism and Buddhism.” (3)

The primary exponent of Transcendentalist, Ralph Waldo Emerson, was raised as a Unitarian and eventually preached and lectured through the Northeast about the tenets of the religion. However, Emerson felt that the Unitarian beliefs were still too rigid for him even though it was a break from the more strict belief system of Calvinism, and he eventually stepped down from his preacher role. Emerson’s break from Unitarianism, as well as the prevailing literary ideas of the time urging for a new religion that meshed “liberal Christianity” and ideas from other world religions catalyzed the Transcendentalist movement.