xplain how these influences shaped Transcendentalist thought and its departure from traditional religious and philosophical doctrines

Transcendentalism, a philosophical and literary movement that emerged in the United States in the 19th century, was heavily influenced by a variety of sources, including Romanticism, Platonism, and Indian religions.

1. Romanticism: Transcendentalism was a reaction against the rationalism of the 18th century and instead embraced the emotional and intuitive aspects of human experience. This was heavily influenced by Romanticism, which emphasized emotion, individualism, and the beauty of the natural world. Transcendentalists like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau believed in the inherent goodness of people and nature, and they championed self-reliance, intuition, and the pursuit of truth in nature.

2. Platonism: Transcendentalists were also influenced by the ideas of Plato and the Neoplatonists, who believed in an ideal spiritual reality that transcends the physical world. This influenced the Transcendentalist belief in an "Over-Soul," a divine spirit that pervades all of nature and humanity.

3. Indian Religions: Transcendentalists were also influenced by Indian religions, particularly the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita. These texts introduced Transcendentalists to the concept of a universal soul and the idea that divinity can be found within the self.

These influences led Transcendentalists to depart from traditional religious and philosophical doctrines in several ways. They rejected the idea of original sin and predestination, and instead believed in the inherent goodness and potential for perfection in humans. They also rejected the strict empiricism and rationalism of the Enlightenment, and instead believed in the importance of intuition and personal experience. Finally, they rejected the idea of a distant God, and instead believed in a divine presence that is inherent in every individual and in nature.