The Arrogant Emerson and Autonomy "To believe in your own thinking, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, it 'is genius' (Autonomy and Other Essays, 19). This statement from the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson provides a summary of the ideas around which transcendentalism was centered. Emerson believed that man is naturally good and that if left to his own devices without the structures of society and laws that confine him, he would create a utopian society very different from the one in which Emerson lived. Emerson's ideas make sense in many areas. situations where societal influence silences the voices of individuals, such as African Americans before the civil rights movement, or intimidates others into never speaking, as happens to many witnesses fearing for their own security. However, I believe he pushes the application of autonomy too far. In “Self-Reliance,” Emerson applies his ideas to religion, arguing that men should find their own belief and not conform to another that was created for them. “We must go it alone,” he says, not seeking help or influence from others, but formulating our own ideas (Self-Reliance and Other Essays, 30). On this point I disagree with Emerson. I believe it is arrogant and self-righteous to try to form your own creed and ideas while ignoring the influence of others. Although autonomy has its place in our lives, it does not encompass all aspects of it. In religion, following a creed and listening to what others have to say has helped me open my mind, not close it as Emerson suggests. Emerson believed that to seek help and suggestion in one's spiritual life was to pollute it. In "Self-Reliance" he writes... middle of paper......to listen to a preacher is to exclude new ideas that might be important. Assuming that one knows enough and does not need teaching in the ways of God is a selfish and self-admiring attitude. Every man can always learn more about his spiritual life. Emerson's ideas about self-reliance have many applications in life. However, religion is not one of these applications. In religion, it is healthy for man to conform to a certain belief because it leads him to questions and ideas that he may never have asked. This does not shut people down as Emerson says, but makes them look deeper within themselves. Man is not naturally good as Emerson suggests. Since the Fall, when Adam and Eve ate the Forbidden Fruit, man has had a sinful nature. So people need guidance, not just their own ideas to guide them. Men should heed the advice of others, not just listen to themselves.