Emerson Divinity School Address

This address was pushing Unitarianism, by pushing its new ministers out of the mold of the being the dominant faith, secure and boring into an faith lived through action, and as a charge to these new ministers, through great ministry (which in this case I think meant preaching).

He seemed to feel that religion as it was at the time he was speaking was dying a slow miserable death because as an institution, it failed to recognize the divinity of all individuals granted by God and rather chose to separate man from divinity.  He also thought that a world without faith is destined for failure.

I found it interesting the wide ranging references in this text.  Jesus, “The French”, “The Greeks” and “The Egyptians, Moses, Zeno and Zoroaster, the Puritans, St. Paul, George Fox or “Swedenborg”.

Its clear that based on where he was and his audience that he was trying to attract attention by issuing a what must have been a radical call to action. He is using a bold and exciting (read:  controversial) sermon to address future and current preachers.  In this sermon, he does to them exactly what he challenges them to do for/to their congregants.  He wants them to challenge them to recognize their own value.

After bashing preaching for the first time, he backs off and capitulating that some good-hearted men can get something out of even bad preaching.  Aside from that one exception, he doesn’t seem to defend himself at all.  It’s almost like he assumes he’s talking to a crowd open to his thoughts.

He’s looking for a “new teacher”. Wow.

I loved this reading.  I found myself identifying, not so much with his “death of religion” idea, but more with his positioning of humanity in line with, or part of divinity.