America’s Deep Roots in Naturalism

Some of the earliest and greatest minds saw the unity of Nature with man as a part of the Whole – not “apart” as a separate and superior species meant to dominate and control.

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With today’s discussions of climate change and ecology it is interesting to reflect that the beginning of the US democratic Republic was actually based on philosophical concepts that mirror some of today’s more progressive and forward-thinking ideas, like nondualism.

Generally, people think of the “founding fathers” as Puritans who fled England to avoid religious persecution and that America was founded on “Christian values.” But the truth is a bit more nuanced and interesting.

In The American Soul: Rediscovering the Wisdom of the Founders, Jacob Needleman delves into the spiritual struggles and aspirations of key figures like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln, presenting them as seekers of a higher truth rather than mere political leaders.

American Deists Were Very Different from Christian Puritans

In The American Soul, Needleman highlights that the Deists, including figures like Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, viewed the universe as governed by moral and natural laws. They believed that human beings, endowed with reason and conscience, had a duty to align their lives with these principles. For Needleman, the Deists exemplified a balance between faith and reason, blending spiritual inquiry with the Enlightenment ideals that shaped America's founding.

Deist cosmology was indeed grounded in Newton’s principles, particularly the idea of a rational, law-governed universe. Newton’s work provided a scientific basis for their theological rejection of miracles, divine intervention, and dogmatic religion. However, while Newton’s discoveries inspired Deist thought, the Deists moved away from his more personal and theistic interpretations of God’s role in the universe.

For Deists, Newton’s laws confirmed their belief in a God who designed a harmonious and self-regulating universe. This rational Creator was accessible to human understanding through the study of nature and reason, not through faith or scripture.

Newton’s view of the universe as governed by fixed natural laws inspired the Deist conception of God as a "Divine Watchmaker." Deists believed God created the universe, set it in motion with immutable laws, and then withdrew, leaving it to operate autonomously.

Deist Concepts Formed the Basis for Our Founding Documents

The Declaration reflected many Deistic ideas. References to a "Creator" as the source of unalienable rights ("life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"). There are the appeals to "Nature’s God" and "the Laws of Nature," which align with Deist beliefs in a rational, impersonal deity accessible through reason rather than revelation.

While Thomas Jefferson himself did not identify strictly as a Deist, his views were heavily influenced by Deistic and Enlightenment thought. He rejected traditional Christian doctrines, focusing instead on reason and moral philosophy. Benjamin Franklin was self-identified Deist, Franklin believed in a Creator who designed the universe but did not interfere in human affairs.

When asked what the Constitution had created, he famously replied, “A Republic, if you can keep it.”

Transcendentalists Expanded on Deist Ideas

Following the Deists were the Transcendentalists in the early 19^th century. Transcendentalists Emphasized the inner divine or the Over-Soul, a spiritual essence connecting all life. Thinkers like Emerson and Thoreau valued intuition, personal experience, and nature as means to access spiritual truth. They critiqued the materialism and rationalism of their time, leaning toward a mystical and poetic view of the universe. Forward thinking, they also supported social reform (abolition, women's rights) as part of living in alignment with their spiritual principles.

Transcendentalists saw nature as alive, sacred, and a direct conduit to spiritual truth. They “transcended” the Deist admiration for nature’s rationality to embrace its mystical and transformative qualities.

Both philosophies, contrary to many modern religions, rejected orthodox Christianity and sought truth outside of traditional scriptures. Where Deists focused on reason and science, Transcendentalists emphasized intuition, emotion, and a sense of spiritual unity.

Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay Nature (1836) was a foundational work of transcendentalism. Emerson argued that people need to develop a direct relationship with nature to understand its profound spiritual and moral significance. Emerson celebrated nature as a source of beauty, inspiration, and renewal. He asserts that experiencing nature allows individuals to transcend their mundane lives and connect with a universal spirit.

The essay's significance lies in its radical departure from traditional European views of nature as something to be conquered or feared. Instead, Emerson presents nature as a divine teacher and spiritual companion, laying the groundwork for environmental consciousness and American Transcendentalism.

In his famous metaphor, Emerson described himself as a "transparent eyeball," symbolizing an observer who becomes one with nature, absorbing its essence without imposing personal bias. This mirrored modern ideas of nondualism – the Oneness of all existence and does not see humanity as a separate and special species.

Emerson saw nature as a manifestation of the divine. He believed that by understanding nature, one can connect with God and grasp universal truths.

Thoreau Lived in Natural Solitude

Among the well-known Transcendentalists was the writer, Henry David Thoreau, who is known for his works Walden and Civil Disobedience. Thoreau was like a modern ecologist, who emphasized simple living, personal integrity, and the importance of nature as a source of spiritual insight.

Transcendentalists believed in the inherent goodness of people and nature. They placed a high emphasis on individual intuition as a source of truth. They rejected materialism and institutional constraints. They formed a dynamic intellectual circle, exchanging ideas and influencing American literature, philosophy, and social reform.

Thoreau spent two years famously living by himself at Walden Pond, and observing the various facets of nature firsthand. He embraced solitude, seeing it as a way to gain clarity and understand one’s inner self.

He said, "I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude."

America’s Roots Could Point the Way Forward

What may seem odd today and, in Thoreau’s time, now appears prophetic. His advocacy for environmental conservation, sustainable living, and civil rights resonates with modern movements. Like Emerson and the other Transcendentalists, Thoreau’s eccentricities were driven by his search for deeper truths and his refusal to compromise his values.

These facts about America’s origins are interesting to consider at a time when there is a strong movement to make the country, and its values align with Christian Fundamentalism.

The reality is that our earliest and greatest minds saw the unity of Nature with man as a part of the Whole – not “apart” as a separate and superior species meant to dominate and control.

These important concepts and our true history would be worth teaching in our schools along with science and mathematics. In my own life, I have begun thinking of the nervous system as an “awareness system” and instead of considering myself a separate person, I try to think of my body as just another organism.