In 1832, Emerson quit his job as a Minister at Boston's Second Church because he disagreed

about how they celebrated the Lord's Supper. He didn't feel right about giving the sacrament
because he didn't believe Jesus meant for it to be observed forever. He thought focusing too
much on Jesus caused confusion about the relationship between God and Jesus. This was a big
deal because Emerson came from a family of ministers, so resigning was a bold move. By leaving
the Church, he was saying that Unitarianism didn't satisfy him. This led him to explore other
religions and ideas, eventually leading him to study Islam, which influenced his writings like "The
American Scholar" and "The Divinity School" in 1838. Emerson wasn't impressed with American
intellectual life either. In his speech "The American Scholar" in 1837, he criticized people for not
thinking originally and just copying European literature. He used an Arab proverb (A fig tree
looking on a fig tree becomes fruitful) to say that foreign literature is only useful if it inspires
America to create its own. In another speech, "The Divinity School Address," Emerson talked
about religion. He wasn't surprised that people were shocked by his radical ideas, considering he
had already left the Church. He criticized traditional Christianity, saying it ruins attempts to
understand religion. He challenged a book by Reverend Andrews Norton, saying a true teacher
should show that God is present, not just a figure from the past. Dorsey Kleitz, an expert on
American literature, thinks Emerson’s poem “The Sphinx” shows his struggle with American
religion and thinking in the 1830s. The Sphinx, a mythical creature, is important because it links
Western and Eastern traditions. Emerson turned to new sources, like the Sphinx and the East,
when he felt unsatisfied with Western culture.

The journey to Europe and return

Emerson believed that searching for great people is important in life, especially as we grow
older. After leaving the Church, Emerson went to Europe to meet these great figures and learn
from them. He became friends with Thomas Carlyle, a famous British writer, who taught him
about the Prophet Muhammad. Carlyle's lecture about Muhammad surprised everyone,
including himself, and made him reconsider his views. Later, in Boston in 1869, Emerson gave a
talk to a group of religious liberals known as 'Radicals' about natural religion. He praised the
spiritual qualities of Muhammad and the noble teachings in the Quran. Emerson found in Islamic
values what he had been looking for in American society for a long time. He was fascinated by
them and often included Islamic quotes and ideas in his writings to express his own feelings and
spiritual experiences. He saw them as a source of guidance and inspiration. Emerson's interest in
Muslim literature is clear from his writings like journals, letters, and essays. He often mentioned
Islam and Muslims in these writings. In 1850, Emerson started a new journal called “The
Orientalist.” In it, he wrote about Indian philosophy, Persian and Arabian poetry, and wisdom
from all over the East.