People, Ideas, and Movements That Shaped New Thought
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.