People, Ideas, and Movements That Shaped New Thought
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.
New Thought primary sources—books, magazines, letters, and archives—form the documentary backbone of the metaphysical movement that emerged in the 19th century. These materials, including works by Mary Baker Eddy, Thomas Troward, Ella Wheeler Wilcox, and Phineas Quimby, reveal the movement’s teachings and its distinction from scientific and medical claims.
An examination of the foundational texts—from Mary Baker Eddy’s Science and Health to Ella Wheeler Wilcox’s The Heart of the New Thought—that defined the New Thought movement’s spiritual philosophy, distinguished it from scientific claims, and influenced modern self-help culture.
New Thought and Christian Science are two American metaphysical religious movements that emerged in the late 19th century from shared roots in idealistic philosophy and mental healing. Though both emphasize the power of Mind in healing and spirituality, they diverged in theology, organizational structure, and practice, leading to a complex relationship marked by mutual denial of common origins.
The New Thought movement, a late 19th-century spiritual and metaphysical movement, was largely led by and for women. This article explores how women shaped its teachings, institutions, and legacy, and how it intersected with feminism and ideas of sexual purity.
New Thought is a 19th-century American metaphysical movement emphasizing the power of the mind to heal and shape reality. Its origins trace to transcendentalist ideas, Phineas Quimby’s mental healing, and the organizational leadership of Emma Curtis Hopkins, with lasting influence on modern self-help culture.
The Mind Cure movement was a late 19th-century American healing movement that used metaphysical mind-over-matter techniques to treat illness. It emerged from mesmerism and metaphysical philosophies, shaped early psychotherapy, and birthed the New Thought movement.
