Emerson and Religion in America

In the Divinity School Address, Emerson spends a large portion of the essay speaking to how "true Christianity," defined by him as belief in the soul of man, "is lost"(266). He believes this is because Christianity is focusing solely upon the past and, as a consequence, there is lower church turnout. This observation by Emerson holds true today. Fewer people attend church regularly once a week let alone spend copious amounts of time reflecting on God than people during Emerson's time. Emerson sees reduced church attendance as the gateway to the collapse of society: "And what greater calamity can fall upon a nation, that the loss of worship?" (266). It is obvious here that Emerson, biased in favor of organized Christian religion, cannot imagine a society like that of today where Sunday is for many just another day and that for a growing number church is attended for funerals, weddings, Christmas, and Easter. Emerson does make an interesting observation, namely that Puritanism is dying out around him and nothing is emerging to take its place in the religious landscape of America. This is particularly interesting because so much of the Puritan influence can still be felt in modern America. The fear that America is losing its ties to religion still cause many to proclaim that society is sure to dissolve into an immoral wasteland, especially during trying times in the countries history like now in the wake of the recession.