Henry David Thoreau's Civil Disobedience

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If one were to follow the beliefs that Henry David Thoreau expresses in “Civil Disobedience,” one wouldn’t be living a life without conflict. Thoreau wrote various works that deeply affected the society around him during his time, and these works continue to leave a lasting impression on those who read them today. His ideas challenge readers and provide insight into a world of self reliance, interacting with nature, and venturing into a place of solitude. Nevertheless, sometimes an easy tendency arises in which one places Thoreau on a pedestal and only takes Thoreau’s works at face value when the work itself may contain fallacies. Thoreau’s literary work of “Civil Disobedience” remains highly regarded in society; however, his work contradicts …show more content…

“Civil Disobedience” contains numerous occasions where Thoreau firmly states that he believes that one can stop pledging allegiance simply if one doesn’t agree with the government and the establishments the government has put into place. He writes, “I simply wish to refuse allegiance to the State, to withdraw and stand aloof from it effectually.” Thoreau expresses another of his belief when he writes, “All men recognize the right of revolution; that is, the right to refuse allegiance to, and to resist, the government, when its tyranny or its inefficiency are great and unendurable.” Rejecting the government’s authority directly counters what Jesus teaches his followers. In Romans 13, Paul writes that “those who reject governmental authority reject God’s authority.” All the power in the entire universe belongs to the Sovereign and Almighty God. Though Christians of the earth today may not be able to see it, He has a plan that ultimately humans will never be able to comprehend. Pledging allegiance to God should be the number one priority as He is the one who put different governments into place. That being said,

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