Spiritual Anti-Religionism

In the secular world, many are quick to point out the negative effects religion has had in human history, and in fact there have been quite a few. As one might expect secular literature has for the majority focused on the problems of a non-spiritual nature. Religion has been blamed for wars and poverty and hunger, but these are all things that do not actually have anything to do with the individual religious experience. As we discussed in class, Wallace Stevens was a secular writer who points out negative effects of religion, but he does not focus on what I would call secular issues. Wallace Steven’s writing objects to religion from a spiritual perspective.

We can see this clearly in two of Stevens’ poems, “Sunday Morning” and “On the Road Home.” My interpretation of these poems leads me to believe that Stevens is a transcendentalist. He implies that true spirituality is only achieved through embracing the natural world, and appreciating its beauty and symmetry.

“Shall she not find comforts in the sun,
In pungent fruit and bright, green wings, or else
In and balm or beauty of the earth,
Things to be cherished like the thought of heaven?”
Wallace Stevens, “Sunday Morning”, (Stanza 2 lines 5 - 8)

This passage is an excellent summary of what I find to be Stevens’ main point. He is suggesting that the natural world is just as praise worthy as any ideological concept of paradise or heaven (a concept normally associated with organized religion). I think that in the rest of his poem he implies that spending time thinking about heaven is a waste because it detracts from ones time to connect with nature.

We see a similar objection to religion in “On the Road Home.” In this poem Stevens focuses on the concept of ‘truth’ from a very philosophical perspective. The speakers in the poem are questioning the existence of truth. Many world religions make claims about truth, and Stevens addresses this issue.

“’The idols have seen lots of poverty,
Snakes and gold and lice,
But not the truth’;”
Wallace Stevens, “On the Road Home”, (Stanza 5 lines 2 – 4)

The placement of the comma after the word poverty leads me to believe that Stevens is labeling snakes and gold and lice all as forms of poverty. Gold is poverty? I’m not sure, but I think this might be a shot at the role materialism has played in religion. While a clever trick, this is not what I find most interesting in this passage. The real statement is Stevens’ proclamation that religion has not achieved truth—a statement that in my opinion is attacking the spiritual component of organized religion. Steven follows this with a passage about nature, and implies spirituality with contrasting tone.

“It was at that time, that the silence was largest
And longest, the night was roundest,
The fragrance of autumn was warmest,
Closest and strongest.”
(Stanza 6 lines 1 – 4)

I would label the poetry of Wallace Stevens as secular because it lacks a cohesive element that brings people together. Like a lot of other secular literature, Stevens’ poetry raises objections to religion, but it is unique in that his complaints are with spiritual issues. It is a refreshing change from other religious critics such as Sam Harris who just complain without acknowledging the existence of individual spirituality.