The Science of Mind by Ernest Holmes: A Foundational New Thought Text

Introduction

Ernest Shurtleff Holmes’s The Science of Mind, first published in 1926, stands as a cornerstone of the New Thought movement. This comprehensive volume, subtitled A Complete Course of Lessons in the Science of Mind and Spirit, synthesized decades of metaphysical speculation into a coherent system of thought and practice. It not only became the definitive textbook for the Religious Science movement Holmes founded but also influenced countless later self-help and positive-thinking authors. This article traces the book’s historical roots, its publication story, its core arguments, and its lasting significance within the broader New Thought tradition.

Historical Context

The New Thought movement emerged in the mid-19th century from a confluence of Transcendentalism, mesmerism, and the healing practices of Phineas Quimby. Quimby, a clockmaker and mental healer from Maine, developed a philosophy that illness was rooted in erroneous beliefs and that correcting these beliefs could restore health. His ideas profoundly influenced Mary Baker Eddy, who founded Christian Science, and Emma Curtis Hopkins, later known as the “teacher of teachers.” By the early 20th century, New Thought had branched into several denominations, including Divine Science (founded by Nona Brooks and Malinda Cramer) and Unity (founded by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore). These groups emphasized the power of affirmative prayer, the immanence of God, and the creative potential of human thought. Ernest Holmes, born in 1887, grew up in this fertile intellectual milieu. He studied the works of Quimby, Eddy, Hopkins, and others, and began lecturing and writing in Los Angeles. The Science of Mind was his attempt to distill the movement’s teachings into a logical, systematic textbook suitable for formal study.

Main Narrative

Publication History

According to the original copyright page, The Science of Mind was copyrighted in 1926 by Anna O. Holmes and first published in November 1926 by Robert M. McBride & Company of New York. The book was dedicated “to that truth which frees man from himself and sets him on the pathway of a new experience.” A later edition, copyrighted in 1983 by Reverend Robert Joseph Karle, was issued to make the text available again. The book has never been out of print for long, and its full text is now freely accessible online through archives such as the Internet Archive and New Thought Library.

Author

Ernest Shurtleff Holmes (1887–1960) was a self-educated philosopher and minister. After hearing a lecture on Christian Science, he began a lifelong study of metaphysics. He moved to Los Angeles in 1912 and quickly became a popular teacher. In 1927, he founded the Institute of Religious Science, which later became the United Church of Religious Science (now Centers for Spiritual Living). The Science of Mind served as the movement’s foundational text, and Holmes continued to refine its teachings until his death.

Historical Setting

The 1920s were a period of cultural ferment in America. The rise of psychology, especially the work of Sigmund Freud and William James, brought new attention to the power of the unconscious mind. The New Thought movement, with its emphasis on mental causation, resonated with these intellectual currents. Holmes wrote in a style that was both philosophical and practical, aiming to make the principles of mental science accessible to ordinary readers. The book’s publication coincided with the peak of the New Thought movement’s popularity, just before the Great Depression shifted cultural priorities.

Main Arguments

Holmes’s central thesis is that Mind is the ultimate reality. He distinguishes between an impersonal Universal Mind (God) and the individual mind, which is a center of consciousness within the whole. By aligning one’s thoughts with the Universal Mind, a person can demonstrate health, prosperity, and happiness. The book teaches that there is a law of cause and effect operating in the mental realm: thoughts are causes, and conditions are effects. Through a practice called Spiritual Mind Treatment (or affirmative prayer), individuals can consciously use this law to bring about desired outcomes.

Key Concepts

The Science of Mind introduces several key concepts that became hallmarks of Religious Science. These include the idea of God as both impersonal (the creative principle) and personal (the indwelling presence). Holmes also emphasizes the unity of all life and the belief that evil is not a separate power but a misdirection of good. He provides a detailed glossary defining terms such as God, Mind, and Spirit, which helped standardize New Thought vocabulary. The book also includes practical lessons on healing, prosperity, and personal relationships, making it a complete course of study.

Reception

Upon its release, The Science of Mind was well received within New Thought circles. It was adopted as the official textbook for Holmes’s Institute of Religious Science and was used in classes across the country. Critics outside the movement dismissed it as unscientific, but its popularity grew steadily. By the 1930s, it had become one of the best-selling metaphysical works of the era, and it remains a classic today.

Influence

The book’s influence extends far beyond Religious Science. It inspired later authors such as Norman Vincent Peale, who popularized positive thinking, and the Human Potential Movement of the 1960s drew on its principles. The phrase “Science of Mind” itself became a generic term for New Thought philosophy. The book also helped to institutionalize the New Thought movement by providing a clear, teachable system, which led to the founding of numerous churches and study groups.

Editions

The original 1926 edition was followed by numerous reprints. A revised and expanded edition was published in 1938, and the 1983 edition by Karle restored the original text. Today, the book is available in print, ebook, and audio formats. The full text is freely accessible at the Internet Archive and New Thought Library, making it easy for researchers and students to consult the primary source.

Where to Read

Readers can access The Science of Mind online at the Internet Archive (archive.org/details/scienceofmind00holm) and at New Thought Library (newthoughtlibrary.com). The Macmillan edition (2021) offers a modern reprint with an introduction. These sources provide both the original text and helpful contextual material.

Why It Matters in New Thought History

The Science of Mind is not merely a book; it is a foundational document that gave the New Thought movement a systematic theology and a practical methodology. Before its publication, New Thought was a loose collection of teachings and healers. Holmes’s work unified these threads into a coherent whole, enabling the movement to organize into churches and training centers. It also bridged the gap between religious mysticism and pragmatic self-help, making metaphysical ideas accessible to a broad audience. For students of New Thought history, the book remains an essential primary source, offering a window into the movement’s core beliefs and its evolution from divine healing to a comprehensive philosophy of life.

Primary Sources

• The Science of Mind (original 1926 edition) by Ernest Holmes. Available at the Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/scienceofmind00holm. This is the first edition, preserving the original text and copyright page.
• The Science of Mind (1983 edition) with introduction by Rev. Robert Joseph Karle. Available at markfoster.net: https://www.markfoster.net/rn/texts/scienceofmind.html. This edition includes a new introduction and glossary.
• New Thought Library online edition: https://newthoughtlibrary.com/holmes-ernest/science-of-mind/pages/home.htm. Provides the complete text along with mp3s and other resources.
• Macmillan reprint (2021) of the complete original 1926 edition. Publisher’s page: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250852243/thescienceofmindthecompleteoriginal1926editiontheclassichandbooktoalifeofpossibilities/. This modern edition offers a readable introduction.