Christian Conversion, the Double Consciousness, and Transcendentalist Religious Rhetoric
Despite the theological gulf that separated the Transcendentalists from their Puritan predecessors, certain leading Transcendentalists—Emerson, Fuller, and Thoreau among them—often punctuated their writings, published and private, with literary representations of dramatic episodes of spiritual awake...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-08-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/8/9/163 |
| _version_ | 1819113373324804096 |
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| author | Alan Hodder |
| author_facet | Alan Hodder |
| author_sort | Alan Hodder |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite the theological gulf that separated the Transcendentalists from their Puritan predecessors, certain leading Transcendentalists—Emerson, Fuller, and Thoreau among them—often punctuated their writings, published and private, with literary representations of dramatic episodes of spiritual awakening whose rhetorical structure sometimes betrays suggestive parallels with traditional, recognizably Christian, forms of conversion rhetoric. While all of these Transcendentalists clearly showcase representations of dramatic religious experience in their work, this reliance on Christian rhetorical patterns is most obvious in the early writings of Emerson and Fuller. Thoreau’s constructions reflect little ostensible Christian influence, yet even here, thematic continuities with earlier forms of religious self-expression are discernible. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T04:28:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a779e167e8104592b53158ab906b1a8a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T04:28:22Z |
| publishDate | 2017-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-a779e167e8104592b53158ab906b1a8a2022-12-21T18:39:06ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442017-08-018916310.3390/rel8090163rel8090163Christian Conversion, the Double Consciousness, and Transcendentalist Religious RhetoricAlan Hodder0Humanities, Arts, and Cultural Studies, Hampshire College, 893 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002, USADespite the theological gulf that separated the Transcendentalists from their Puritan predecessors, certain leading Transcendentalists—Emerson, Fuller, and Thoreau among them—often punctuated their writings, published and private, with literary representations of dramatic episodes of spiritual awakening whose rhetorical structure sometimes betrays suggestive parallels with traditional, recognizably Christian, forms of conversion rhetoric. While all of these Transcendentalists clearly showcase representations of dramatic religious experience in their work, this reliance on Christian rhetorical patterns is most obvious in the early writings of Emerson and Fuller. Thoreau’s constructions reflect little ostensible Christian influence, yet even here, thematic continuities with earlier forms of religious self-expression are discernible.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/8/9/163Transcendentalismreligious experiencereligious rhetoricWilliam JamesRalph Waldo EmersonJones VeryMargaret FullerHenry David Thoreau |
| spellingShingle | Alan Hodder Christian Conversion, the Double Consciousness, and Transcendentalist Religious Rhetoric Religions Transcendentalism religious experience religious rhetoric William James Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones Very Margaret Fuller Henry David Thoreau |
| title | Christian Conversion, the Double Consciousness, and Transcendentalist Religious Rhetoric |
| title_full | Christian Conversion, the Double Consciousness, and Transcendentalist Religious Rhetoric |
| title_fullStr | Christian Conversion, the Double Consciousness, and Transcendentalist Religious Rhetoric |
| title_full_unstemmed | Christian Conversion, the Double Consciousness, and Transcendentalist Religious Rhetoric |
| title_short | Christian Conversion, the Double Consciousness, and Transcendentalist Religious Rhetoric |
| title_sort | christian conversion the double consciousness and transcendentalist religious rhetoric |
| topic | Transcendentalism religious experience religious rhetoric William James Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones Very Margaret Fuller Henry David Thoreau |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/8/9/163 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alanhodder christianconversionthedoubleconsciousnessandtranscendentalistreligiousrhetoric |