People, Ideas, and Movements That Shaped New Thought
Biographies and contributions of key individuals in New Thought.
Explore the life and teachings of Ernest Holmes, founder of Religious Science, and the enduring impact of his Science of Mind philosophy on the New Thought movement and modern self-help culture.
Ursula Newell Gestefeld was a pioneering figure in the New Thought movement, bridging Christian Science and independent metaphysical teaching. This article explores her life, her rift with Mary Baker Eddy, her Science of Being system, and her lasting impact on American religious thought.
Elizabeth Towne and Annie Rix Militz were pioneering women publishers who shaped the New Thought movement through their magazines and books. This article explores their lives, the business of metaphysical media, and their lasting influence on American spiritual culture.
William Walker Atkinson, writing as Yogi Ramacharaka, merged Eastern yoga and Hindu philosophy with New Thought metaphysics, shaping modern self-help and the Law of Attraction.
Florence Scovel Shinn transformed New Thought with her 1925 classic The Game of Life and How to Play It, blending practical prosperity teachings with spiritual affirmations. This article traces her journey from illustrator to metaphysical teacher, her core ideas, and her lasting influence on modern self-help.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox, a prolific American poet, became one of the most widely read voices of the New Thought movement. Her optimistic verses, including ‘Laugh, and the world laughs with you,’ brought metaphysical ideas to a mass audience. This article explores her life, her connections to Emma Curtis Hopkins and New Thought, and her lasting influence.
Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, healed through New Thought principles, founded Unity, the largest Christian movement in the tradition. Their journey from students of Emma Curtis Hopkins to leaders of a global prayer ministry transformed American spirituality.
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.
Emma Curtis Hopkins, known as the ‘mother of New Thought,’ taught and ordained the founders of Unity, Religious Science, and other major metaphysical movements. This article traces her life, teachings, and enduring legacy.
Nona Lovell Brooks was a pioneering leader of the New Thought movement and co-founder of the Church of Divine Science. This article traces her life, healing, teachings, and lasting impact on American metaphysical religion.