People, Ideas, and Movements That Shaped New Thought
The term ‘New Thought’ emerged in the late 19th century as a label for a diverse mind-healing movement rooted in the teachings of Phineas Quimby. This article traces its origins, key figures, and the historical process by which the name became standard.
Ernest Holmes (1887–1960) was an American New Thought leader who founded Religious Science and authored The Science of Mind. His teachings blended Christian Science, transcendentalism, and practical metaphysics, influencing modern self-help and spiritual movements.
Thomas Troward, a British judge in colonial India, brought legal precision to metaphysical inquiry, producing works like the Edinburgh Lectures on Mental Science that shaped New Thought, influenced William James, and inspired early Alcoholics Anonymous.
William Walker Atkinson was an American attorney who became one of the most prolific and influential writers in the New Thought movement, authoring over a hundred books under multiple pseudonyms. His work shaped modern self-help, yoga, and prosperity teachings, leaving a lasting legacy in metaphysical literature.
Elizabeth Towne was a writer, editor, and publisher who shaped the New Thought movement through her magazine The Nautilus, her leadership in the International New Thought Alliance, and her prolific self-help writings. This article explores her life, influence, and lasting legacy.
Ralph Waldo Trine (1866–1958) was a pioneering American New Thought writer whose best-selling book In Tune with the Infinite carried metaphysical idealism to a global audience, bridging Transcendentalism, Christian socialism, and practical spirituality.
Horatio W. Dresser, son of Phineas Quimby’s followers, became a leading New Thought philosopher and historian. He preserved Quimby’s manuscripts, founded key institutions, and shaped the movement’s intellectual foundations.
Myrtle Fillmore, born Mary Caroline Page, overcame tuberculosis through spiritual healing and co-founded Unity, a major New Thought movement. Her life exemplifies the power of mind-cure teachings and shaped the landscape of American religious liberalism.
Charles Sherlock Fillmore (1854–1948) cofounded Unity, a cornerstone of the New Thought movement, with his wife Myrtle. His teachings on mind-body connection, meditation, and metaphysical Christianity helped shape modern self-help culture and left a lasting mark on American spirituality.
Annie Rix Militz was a foundational figure in the New Thought movement, founding the Home of Truth, co-founding the West Coast Metaphysical Bureau, and editing Master Mind magazine. Her work bridged divine healing, mental science, and institutional New Thought, influencing generations of metaphysical teachers.