People, Ideas, and Movements That Shaped New Thought
Explore how the religious ferment of western New York’s Burned-Over District in the 1800s—with its revivals, utopian communities, and metaphysical experimentation—laid the groundwork for the New Thought movement’s emphasis on mind and spirit.
Explore the core theology of the New Thought movement—its idealistic pantheism, the concept of the Divine Mind, and how these ideas shaped a diverse spiritual tradition that continues to influence modern self-help culture.
Explore how the New Thought movement transformed American ideas of wealth and poverty, teaching that financial success is a matter of mental alignment with divine abundance. From Quimby to Holmes, this article traces the evolution of prosperity theology and its lasting impact on self-help culture.
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.
Explore how the New Thought movement harnessed the power of print—from early pamphlets to mass-market magazines—to transform a disparate collection of metaphysical healers into a global spiritual force, shaping modern self-help culture.
This article traces the New Thought movement’s evolution from 19th-century mind cure to its profound influence on 20th-century New Age spirituality, examining key figures, institutions, and publications that shaped a lasting legacy.
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.
Explore the intertwined yet distinct histories of New Thought and Christian Science, from shared roots in 19th-century idealism and mental healing to their divergent paths, key figures, and lasting impact on American metaphysical religion.
Nona Lovell Brooks (1861–1945) was a cofounder of the Divine Science movement, a New Thought religious tradition that emphasized the omnipresence of God and the power of spiritual healing. This article explores her life, her healing, and her role in building the first Divine Science church.
From the late 19th century onward, New Thought magazines served as the movement’s circulatory system, carrying its message of mental healing and idealist philosophy to a vast, decentralized network of readers. This article traces the rise of these periodicals, their key editors and publications, and their enduring impact on the movement’s growth.