Emerson's idea of ​​individualism was so intense that it eradicated years of social acceptance and norms. It was a very selfish way of thinking, almost selfishness. He spoke of nature as if it were the writing of God and that those who could read nature were able to understand its teachings. According to Emerson, forests, streams, meadows, and lakes were all sources of spiritual and mental pleasure. He proposed that an individual's intellect is what makes shapes and forms into spiritual visions. Although Christianity, America's most popular religion, shares similar values ​​with Calvinism and Puritanism, America itself relates more to the transcendental thinking espoused by writers like Emerson. In his work "Self-Reliance", he argues that following one's personal belief system is more correct than following what the rest of the world thinks is right. Emerson's individualism favors personal will over intellect. Feeling is more important than logic in Emerson's view of things. As a new nation seeking to characterize itself, America followed two opposing mentalities, those of Calvinism and Transcendentalism. Calvinism proclaimed that human beings are evil by nature and can only be saved by the grace of God. Transcendentalism declared exactly the opposite, that is, that man was endowed with the special ability to deduce the residence of God in the world. Calvinists believed that human impulses came from an inner evil, while Transcendentalists thought they were moral intuitions that preceded the unjustified code of common society. In Emerson's eyes, man's will is predominant, since it is the impulse that drives the intellect to create. He believes that if we don't trust our will and intuition, but rather let society dictate to us... middle of paper... crowd. Articles are constantly being published urging people to promote themselves "as a brand", all perfectly in line with Emerson's ideals. His ideas are so rampant in American society today that conformity is often feared and despised. Even the most radical figures agreed with Emerson's individualistic principles, as is evident in the Imperial Wizard and Emperor of the Ku Klux Klan's statement in 1926 that the United States should "secure to every child [the] opportunity to develop his own abilities natural according to your needs". maximum." Emerson's beliefs could not be more relevant to today's American society, where the individual is highly celebrated and encouraged to shine. Emerson's reliance on solitary influence marks an imperative shift in the American perspective, not only in his time, but in ours and that of America forever. Works Cited Ralph Waldo Emerson