Emerson had a new religious theory: "the u

Emerson proposed that a lover of nature would need intercourse with heaven and earth each day. It would be as necessary to him as food. "In the presence of nature, a wild delight runs through the man, in spite of real sorrows" (815). The greatest delight would not be found in a church; it would be found in the fields or woods. "Yet it is certain that the power to produce this delight, does not reside in nature, but in man, or in a harmony of both" (815). Nature does not simply supply the experience; man has to feel the experience from within. This was an obvious revision of the traditional Christian belief that man must communicate with God through prayer and worship. The transcendental view that man would find a religious experience in nature replaced the old view that man would find a religious experience in the church, through prayer, or as a result of devoted worship.

Emerson’s new view positioned nature in the same place as God; the two were the same. "As a plant upon the earth, so a man rests upon the bosom of God; he is nourished by unfailing fountains, and draws, at his need, inexhaustible power" (834). In the previous quote, Emerson refers to nature as God. This view of God was quite different from traditional views. In the past, God was thought to be a spirit we could not see. Emerson’s revision explained that anyone could see or feel God if they only went to nature to do so. Again, we see nature referred to as the provider instead of God; however, God is spoken of as if he were nature. "The aspect of nature is devout. Like the figure of Jesus, she stands with bended head, and hands folded upon the breast. The happiest man is he who learns from nature the lesson of worship" (834). Everything in nature has a spark of divinity in it. Another revision Emerson offered was that man could learn from the religious aspect of nature. The previous, traditional view directed Christian followers to seek the Bible for lessons of worship. Christians were told to be like Jesus. Emerson’s revision directed Christian followers to be like nature, and, as a result, they would be religious and learn the lesson of worship. "Nature says, -- he is my creature, and all maugre all his impertinent griefs, he shall be glad with me" (815). This quote reveals an obvious revision of traditional Christ

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