People, Ideas, and Movements That Shaped New Thought
Explore the 19th-century metaphysical movement that birthed the Law of Attraction, from Phineas Quimby’s healing methods to the institutionalization of New Thought and its enduring influence on modern self-help culture.
New Thought, a 19th-century American mind-healing movement, laid the groundwork for modern positive thinking. This article traces its evolution from Phineas Quimby’s mental healing to the institutional forms of Unity, Divine Science, and Religious Science, and explores its lasting cultural impact.
Explore how New Thought’s prosperity theology evolved from 19th-century mind cure to a widespread American success philosophy, shaping modern self-help and positive thinking movements.
Affirmations, or affirmative prayer, are a core practice of the New Thought movement, evolving from 19th-century mental healing to institutionalized forms in Divine Science, Unity, and Religious Science. This article traces their origins, key figures, and lasting influence on modern self-help culture.
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.
From its metaphysical roots in the 1830s to its institutional flowering in the 1890s, the New Thought movement spread through a network of teachers, periodicals, and healing centers, leaving a lasting imprint on American spirituality and self-help culture.
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.
Emma Curtis Hopkins, a mystic, feminist, and healer, shaped the New Thought movement as its founder and ‘teacher of teachers,’ mentoring the founders of Unity, Religious Science, and other metaphysical traditions.