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Blake was deeply religious, but his ideas departed radically from orthodox Christianity.
He rejected what he saw as fals oppositions between body and soul, the spiritual and physical, human and divine.
He saw himself as a prophet as well as a poet.
He was steeped in Christian tradition, as were many of his time. Bible reading and hymns were part of his childhood and his life. As a consequence, traditional religious symbols and images were an integral part of this thinking about life, the world, and himself.
His religious and political ideas are linked. He was deeply critical of organised religion and the Church as an organisation, believing them both to be hypocritical (accepting poverty and suffering, and suggesting that rewards will come in the afterlife) and repressive (denying human beings the happiness that comes from love and sexuality)
He was anti authority, whether that be the law, the church or the monarchy.
He was influence in his early adult life by Swedenborgian religion as taught by Emanuel Swedenborg, as Swedish philosopher and religious writer born in 1688 and died in 1772. He claimed to have intercourse with the spiritual world through the opening of his spiritual senses in 1745. He taught that there is a correspondence between natural and spiritual things. Swedeborgians believed that heaven and hell are extensions of our human desires and capacities and that spirits and angels are men in perfect form.
However Blake later rejected aspects of Swedenborgian religions and was more influences by Boehme - he believed that divine spirits created all things. Boehme was a German who specialised in mystic experiences. He had a vision in 1600 where he claimed to see the beauty of sunlight in a pewter dish which showed the spiritual structure of the world and relationships between god and man and good and evil. Thought the fall of man was necessary for evolution. Humanity and angels fell from grace to rebel against god, and god's goal is to restore the world to a state of grace. He believed free will is the most important gift from god.
Church and Religion Quotes
The Garden Of Love
"And priests in black gowns were walking their rounds"
A Little Boy Lost
"The priest sat by and heard the child / In trembling zeal he seized his hair."
Holy Thursday
"Twas on a Holy Thursday, their innocent faces clean"
The Little Vagabond
"the church is cold"
Comments
These notes are aimed at A Level English Literature students at A2 level.
Originally written by BeckySparrow on TSR Forums. Quotes originally picked by camiroo.
