People, Ideas, and Movements That Shaped New Thought
Unity is a New Thought spiritual movement founded in 1889 by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore in Kansas City, Missouri, emphasizing prayer, mind-over-body healing, and practical Christianity. Rooted in the teachings of Emma Curtis Hopkins and Ralph Waldo Emerson, it grew from a prayer group into an international organization with Silent Unity, publications, and educational programs.
H. Emilie Cady’s Lessons in Truth, first published in the 1890s, became a cornerstone of the New Thought movement, distilling metaphysical Christianity into twelve practical lessons. This article explores its historical context, key teachings, and enduring influence on Unity and modern self-help spirituality.
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.