In class yesterday we speculated a bit about who might qualify as truly “self-reliant” in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s sense of that term. Among Emerson’s contemporaries and near-contemporaries, the most obvious candidates would seem to be Joseph Smith (with his highly successful new religion) and Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson (with their dazzling and highly original poetry). Among our own contemporaries and near-contemporaries, the votes in class seemed to be leaning heavily toward L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology.

Carefully consider Emerson’s claim that “to believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men,—that is genius.” Whether in religion, the arts, politics, or wherever — who in our own age seems best to measure up to that standard? Is it really Hubbard? (I mean, c’mon — an intergalactic alien ruler named Xenu?) If so — if the fruits of self-reliance include Scientology — should we reconsider our opinion of Emerson? Read more!

Got milk? This has nothing to do with American lit — I just think the photo is awesome. Backstory here. Read more!