People, Ideas, and Movements That Shaped New Thought
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.
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 mind-healing movement emphasizing the power of thought and belief to shape health, prosperity, and well-being. Rooted in metaphysical idealism, it has influenced modern self-help culture and remains active through groups like the International New Thought Alliance.
Wallace D. Wattles’s 1910 classic The Science of Getting Rich distilled New Thought metaphysics into a practical guide for wealth creation. This article explores its historical roots, key concepts, reception, and enduring influence on prosperity theology and modern self-help culture.
Ernest Holmes (1887–1960) was an American New Thought leader who founded Religious Science and authored The Science of Mind. His teachings blended Christian Science, transcendentalism, and practical metaphysics, influencing modern self-help and spiritual movements.
Elizabeth Towne was a writer, editor, and publisher who shaped the New Thought movement through her magazine The Nautilus, her leadership in the International New Thought Alliance, and her prolific self-help writings. This article explores her life, influence, and lasting legacy.
