Christian Heterodox: Religious Idealism in the Poetry of William Blake

An Honor's Thesis by Andrew J. Manuse
For the Completion of his Undergraduate Studies at Niagara University

Conclusion

The purpose of this thesis was to explore William Blake’s lesser known works, letters, and annotations in order to discover his “religious,” or Spiritual, beliefs. From one perspective, William Blake’s religion was his artwork. For him, the practice of art was the true form of Christianity. Blake endeavored to connect with the Spiritual world, which is Heaven, in the “Eternal Now” by using his imagination and vision. In fact, he saw visions his whole life and based his artwork on what he saw. By doing this, Blake was able to create an entire artistic mythology that expressed his most beloved faith. He affirmed that God, humanity, Jesus, and the imagination were all the same thing. He promulgated the idea that each person must discover God within himself so that he can reach his full potential. He redefined the idea of forgiveness, extending it to all and making it unconditional. Furthermore, he declared that mutual forgiveness between individuals would bring about Heaven. Finally, he proclaimed his own role to be that of poet-prophet. He believed that his artwork was a true expression of the Eternal Divine, and that each person could learn how to reach Heaven by perceiving his message imaginatively.

William Blake was considered mad in his day for the message that he advanced. Today, he is considered unorthodox. Yet, Blake reportedly remarked "that there are probably men shut up as mad in Bedlam, who are not so: that possibly the madmen outside have shut up the sane people” (qtd. in Ackroyd 335). He believed that society was backwards, perceiving the material world to be the whole reality. For Blake, this perception is the reality of Hell; he spent his whole life trying to change people's minds. He avowed that Heaven is the perception of the Spiritual world, or the world of imagination, in the eternal present. For this he was called insane. Yet, this is the message in the Bible as well. Jesus taught humanity to forsake this world in order to have eternal life in the Spiritual world. Blake knew this, and affirmed that this Spiritual World must be lived in at all times. Perhaps Blake was right in calling the rest of the world mad for not seeing this. This is why the title of this thesis uses the word “heterodox.” The word heterodox does not suggest that Blake was right or wrong; it just implies that he was different from the norm. Perhaps there is something beautiful in this assertion.

Again, this writer recommends that the reader of Blake take on the interpretation of his work with an open mind. To do so will unlock doors of perception enabling a new vision of reality to appear. It is this writer’s opinion that William Blake was indeed a prophet, one who reveals eternal truths, and that his message is true when read in this light. As is true of all art, Blake’s work cannot be understood to be the literal assertion of fact. Blake simply reveals an imaginative vision of reality through his own vocabulary and symbols. Take it for what you will; Blake’s art is still a masterful creation that will have its place along side of the great classics.

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