Sermon: Transcendentalism and Care of the Soul

April 26^th: “Transcendentalism & Care of the Soul”

“In spite of its wide spread ramifications in American culture and society, Transcendentalism was at the core a religious movement.  This is true not only because of its origins as a theological revolt within the ranks of Unitarianism, but also because, in every area, including literature, education and politics, its initial impulse and primary purpose was essentially spiritual in nature.” (From Thoreau as Spiritual Guide by Barry Andrews.) Today, as more and more people identify as “spiritual but not religious,” how might the transcendentalist notion of care of the soul inspire us in our own quests as Unitarian Universalists.