Ernest Holmes: Founder of Religious Science and the Science of Mind

Introduction

Ernest Shurtleff Holmes (January 21, 1887 – April 7, 1960) stands as one of the most influential figures in the American New Thought movement. As the founder of Religious Science—a spiritual philosophy he called “The Science of Mind”—Holmes synthesized insights from Christian Science, transcendentalism, and the broader metaphysical currents of his era into a practical system of mental and spiritual healing. His seminal book, The Science of Mind (1926), remains in print and has inspired generations of students, teachers, and self-help authors. Holmes also founded Science of Mind magazine, which has been published continuously since 1927, and established an organizational network that evolved into today’s Centers for Spiritual Living. This article traces Holmes’s life, his intellectual influences, the development of his teachings, and his enduring legacy within the New Thought tradition.

Historical Context

The New Thought movement emerged in the mid-19th century as a response to the rigid Calvinism and materialism of the age. Its roots reach back to the transcendentalism of Ralph Waldo Emerson and the mystical philosophy of Emanuel Swedenborg, as well as to the practical healing methods of Phineas Quimby, a clockmaker who developed a system of mental healing in the 1840s. Quimby’s ideas influenced Mary Baker Eddy, who founded Christian Science in 1879, and Emma Curtis Hopkins, who taught many early New Thought leaders. By the late 19th century, a diverse array of teachers and writers—including Charles and Myrtle Fillmore (Unity), Nona Brooks and Malinda Cramer (Divine Science), William Walker Atkinson, and Ralph Waldo Trine—were spreading the core New Thought principle that mind is causative and that spiritual understanding can bring health, prosperity, and happiness. This milieu of metaphysical experimentation, often called the “mind cure” movement, provided the fertile soil in which Holmes’s ideas would grow.

Main Narrative

Early Life and Education

Ernest Holmes was born on January 21, 1887, in Lincoln, Maine, into a poor family that offered little formal education (source: Wikipedia). At age 15, he left home for Boston to make his way in the world. There he pursued a course in public speaking, and one of his instructors introduced him to Christian Science. He was given a copy of Mary Baker Eddy’s Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, which resonated deeply with his reading of Ralph Waldo Emerson (source: Encyclopedia.com). This encounter set the stage for his lifelong exploration of metaphysical thought.

Influences and Intellectual Development

In 1912, Holmes moved to Southern California, where his brother Fenwicke had become a Congregational pastor. Shortly after arriving, he discovered the Metaphysical Library in Los Angeles, a hub for New Thought literature. He devoured the works of Thomas Troward, William Walker Atkinson, and Christian D. Larson (source: Encyclopedia.com). These authors, along with Emerson and Eddy, shaped his understanding of the relationship between consciousness, God, and material reality. Holmes also studied Divine Science and was ordained as a Divine Science minister (source: Wikipedia), which provided him with a formal ministerial foundation.

Career and Founding of Religious Science

Holmes gave his first public lecture at the Metaphysical Library in 1916, and the following year he and his brother opened their own teaching center (source: Encyclopedia.com). Over the next decade, he toured and spoke widely, eventually settling in Los Angeles to complete his major work, The Science of Mind, published in 1926 (source: RBCSL). That same year he married Hazel Durkee Foster (source: Wikipedia). In 1927, he founded the Institute of Religious Science and School of Philosophy and launched Science of Mind magazine, which has been in continuous publication since then (source: Wikipedia). His organization underwent several name changes over time and is now known as the Centers for Spiritual Living (source: RBCSL).

Key Teachings and Major Books

Holmes’s central teaching, articulated in The Science of Mind, is that there is a universal Mind—God—that is the creative substance of all existence. Humans, made in the image of this Mind, can consciously align with it through affirmative prayer and right thinking. He taught that the physical world is an effect of mental causes, and that by changing one’s thoughts and beliefs, one can change one’s circumstances. This practical, results-oriented approach distinguished Religious Science from more purely devotional forms of Christianity. Holmes wrote numerous other books, including Creative Mind and This Thing Called You, which expanded on these principles.

Organizations and Publications

Holmes’s organizational efforts were crucial to the dissemination of his teachings. The Institute of Religious Science trained ministers and teachers, and its successor organizations—the United Church of Religious Science and later the Centers for Spiritual Living—created a global network of congregations. Science of Mind magazine became a primary vehicle for Holmes’s ideas and those of his students, featuring articles on metaphysics, healing, and practical spirituality. His books remain in print and continue to be used in study groups and ministerial training programs.

Controversies and Historical Debates

Despite his success, Holmes faced criticism from both orthodox Christians and some within the New Thought movement. His emphasis on personal prosperity and health could be seen as materialistic, and his metaphysical interpretation of God diverged from traditional theism. Some New Thought purists argued that his system was too intellectual or that he diluted the healing emphasis of earlier teachers. Holmes himself had a distaste for organized religion, yet he founded one—a tension that scholars continue to explore.

Timeline of Key Events

• 1887 – Born in Lincoln, Maine
• 1902 – Left home for Boston; encountered Christian Science
• 1912 – Moved to Southern California; discovered Metaphysical Library
• 1916 – First public lecture at the Metaphysical Library
• 1917 – Opened a teaching center with brother Fenwicke
• 1926 – Published The Science of Mind
• 1927 – Married Hazel Durkee Foster; founded Institute of Religious Science; launched Science of Mind magazine
• 1960 – Died in Los Angeles, California

Why It Matters in New Thought History

Ernest Holmes’s significance lies in his ability to systematize and popularize New Thought principles for a modern audience. He bridged the gap between the metaphysical healing tradition of the 19th century and the self-help movement of the 20th century. His emphasis on practical application—using mental and spiritual laws to improve one’s life—foreshadowed the human potential movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Today, Religious Science and its offshoots continue to thrive, and Holmes’s books are studied by anyone interested in the intersection of spirituality, psychology, and personal development. His legacy is a reminder that New Thought was not merely a historical curiosity but a living tradition that has shaped contemporary spirituality.

Primary Sources

• The Science of Mind (1926) by Ernest Holmes – The foundational text of Religious Science, outlining his metaphysical system.
• Science of Mind magazine (1927–present) – Founded by Holmes; contains articles, lessons, and sermons that document the movement’s evolution.
• Creative Mind (1919) – An early work that anticipates themes in his later writings.
• This Thing Called You (1948) – A concise summary of his teachings on personal transformation.
• Letters and correspondence – Held in the archives of the Centers for Spiritual Living, offering insight into Holmes’s personal thoughts and organizational strategies.