American culture has a notoriously fast pace and an obvious state of exhaustion that accompanies overwork of mind, body and of a person's mind. In this hustle and bustle, it becomes easy to lose sight of the ideals set for happiness and lifestyle in general. At some point in life you have to ask yourself whether it was all worth it to achieve the end goal, and it is in this quest for purpose and meaning that many of the ideas fit presented in Thoreau's memoir, Walden. While many of his views are in line with the Bible's teachings on how Christians should live meaningful and fulfilling lives, others are in stark contradiction. Thus, it becomes necessary to determine the differences between Thoreau's values ​​and those of the biblical authors, because both works contain ideas that are still applicable in the constant course of modern society. If Thoreau and the biblical authors agree on certain points such as the devaluation of material goods, others such as the eternal value of the present and the presence of the hand of God which gives success are different between the two works. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The most striking example of similarity between the Bible and Thoreau is seen in the attitude toward the world's material possessions. Positions on materialism and material possessions are pervasive in the Bible and are supported by Thoreau's own quest for a simplistic life. The most obvious example of a life devoid of materialism is that of Jesus Christ, who prioritized God's mission over comfort and wealth. Likewise, the Bible verse from Luke that says, “Take heed and beware of all covetousness, for life does not consist in the abundance of good things” (Luke 12:15) reiterates the importance of life outside. worldly possessions. In Thoreau's Walden, he supports this passage from Luke when he writes: "[t]he city poor often seem to me to live the most independent life of all...cultivating poverty like a garden herb, like sage." Don't worry too much about acquiring new things, whether it's clothes or friends. Turn the old one; come back to them. Things don’t change, we change…God will see that you don’t want society” (Thoreau 413). These two passages are similar in their emphasis on life itself over materialism. To live a truly meaningful life, things that provide personal gain in place of eternal value must be ignored and the focus turned toward independence in favor of materialism. Only by ignoring the temptations and pleasures of the world will we achieve a life of poverty and independence. Thoreau praises simplicity when he advises “let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand…keep your accounts to your miniature” (Thoreau 410). Overall, the idea of ​​simplicity in all aspects of life is present in both the Bible and Thoreau's writings, as material elements simply distract from the overall goal of 'a fulfilling life, complete with freedom from cultural norms in place of materialistic conformity. Despite the similarities between the lifestyles discussed in the Bible and Thoreau's own writings, there are also differences. The first example of a contradiction between Thoreau and the Bible concerns living a meaningful life and how one spends one's time on earth. The book of James addresses this.