Divinity School Address

The Divinity School Address was delivered by Emerson to the graduating class of Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on July 15, 1838. At the time, the Harvard community was strongly Unitarian, and Emerson's argument for a more transcendental view of God and faith was seen as radical, and touched off a great controversy. Prompted by his life experience, Emerson questioned the miracles of Jesus, argued for moral intuition over religious doctrine, and discussed the failures of historical Christianity. Although Harvard and the Unitarian church rejected his assertions, Emerson is viewed as a leader of the Transcendental movement, and his other literary contributions have had a notable impact on American thought.

Public Domain (P)2011 eChristian, Inc.

Horrible voice

It’s such a pity. The content of Emerson’s essay is absolutely gorgeous. But the reader sounds like he has his cheeks full of hard candy and saliva. Every S sound is so over slurred and accentuated that I find him to be unlistenable. Second book I’ve tried that was read by him and I just can’t. I don’t understand how he gets the job.