People, Ideas, and Movements That Shaped New Thought
This article examines how early 20th-century dictionaries and encyclopedias defined the New Thought movement, revealing its core principles, its relationship to Christian Science and mental healing, and its place in American religious history.
This article traces the New Thought movement’s evolution from 19th-century mind cure to its profound influence on 20th-century New Age spirituality, examining key figures, institutions, and publications that shaped a lasting legacy.
William Walker Atkinson, a prolific New Thought author and pseudonymous writer, profoundly shaped modern Reiki and prosperity teaching through his works on mental science, yoga, and the law of attraction. His books, written under names like Yogi Ramacharaka and Theron Q. Dumont, introduced Eastern concepts to Western audiences and codified the metaphysical principles behind contemporary success literature.
The Master Key System by Charles F. Haanel is a cornerstone of New Thought literature, often mistakenly attributed to William Walker Atkinson. This article clarifies the relationship between Haanel’s influential course and Atkinson’s own ‘Master Mind,’ situating both within the broader New Thought movement.
The International New Thought Alliance (INTA), founded in 1914, served as the first successful umbrella organization for the disparate branches of the New Thought movement. This article traces its origins, key figures, publications, and major events, showing how it fostered cooperation while preserving diversity.
Phineas Parkhurst Quimby’s ‘Science of Health’ challenged 19th-century medicine by asserting that disease originates in false beliefs and that healing comes through correcting the mind. This article traces its origins, key teachings, and profound influence on the New Thought movement.
Unity School of Christianity, founded by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore in 1889, grew from Kansas City prayer meetings into an international New Thought movement. This article traces its origins, key teachings, publications, and global expansion, highlighting its enduring influence on metaphysical Christianity.
Genevieve Behrend, a French-born author and teacher, became the only personal pupil of Thomas Troward, the renowned New Thought philosopher. Her story of visualizing her way to Cornwall and her subsequent book ‘Your Invisible Power’ shaped the mental science movement.
Published in 1917 after Thomas Troward’s death, ‘The Law and the Word’ is a cornerstone of New Thought literature, synthesizing Eastern philosophy and Western science to explore the creative power of thought. This article traces its historical context, key concepts, and lasting influence on the movement.
Warren Felt Evans’s 1873 treatise Mental Medicine stands as a pivotal yet often overlooked text in the New Thought movement, bridging earlier metaphysical traditions and the later mental healing schools. This article explores its historical context, core ideas, and enduring influence.