Exploring the New Thought Movement
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us” –Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Welcome to celebrating the birth and development of the New Thought movement. I have chosen the following information and resource material for your greater understanding of where we have come since the spiritual healing of Phineas P Quimby (1802—1866), credited for impacting the New Thought movement http://www.newthoughtcsl.org/history.
When I studied the greats (at Unity Seminary) from the lineage of those influential to New Thought development, Warren Felt Evans so impressed and motivated me to always hold dear the art of spiritual healing and to practice and teach the divine method of healing. http://warrenfeltevans.wwwhubs.com/
“Phineas Quimby was an American mental healer whose ideas greatly influenced the New Thought movement, a religious-metaphysical healing group. He originally studied mesmerism and became a practitioner of hypnosis. He claimed that he could heal by mere suggestion. Quimby believed that illness originated in the mind and was created by erroneous beliefs. He taught that when a person opened their mind to God’s wisdom, they could conquer any sickness” http://www.newthoughtcsl.org/history.
Announcement placed in Two Local Newspapers–the Third Annual New Thought Day is celebrated on March 1, 2015. “New Thought, a recognized Global Faith more than a century-old, is a positive and practical spiritual faith which promotes fullness of all aspects of living.” Revfrieda.com is a New Thought website filled with uplifting spiritual practices, inspirational messages, daily Truth ideas expanded on, prayer of the day, and meditations. A local resident, Rev. Frieda King from Magnolia, Texas is author of the New Thought website and may be reached at 281-415-4317.
“New Thought, not to be confused with New Age, embraces positive thinking, listening to one’s inner voice, affirmative prayer, meditation, and other ways of realizing the presence of God within. New Thought began in the mid-1800s in America and has branches similar to almost every other religion although the teachings and rituals are very similar within each branch” (approved new thought day material).
“New Thought Core Values–New Thought, as defined in the dictionary, is a modern spiritual philosophy stressing the power of right thinking in a person’s life, the idea that our thoughts and attitudes affect our experience and that the divine power of God’s Spirit is alive within each individual.” “Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life!” “’New Thought is a correlation of the laws of science, the opinions of philosophy, and the revelations of religion applied to human needs and the aspirations of man’”– Ernest Holmes (approved new thought day material).
www.unity.org; Our Philosophy—Our Teaching:
- “Heaven is not a place, but a state of consciousness; we create our own heaven and hell here and now.
- “We all have an innate capacity to know God through direct experience.
- “The ‘Christ’ is that part of God that is in every person. There is a spark of divinity within all people, just as there was in Jesus.
- “Prayer works.
- “We are here to set a positive example and be a role model for others.
- “We are here to make the world a better place.”
“New Thought honors and respects all people of all faiths who believe spiritual equity and human rightsbelong to everyone.” (Albert)
“We Learn From All Faiths: Jewish–Love & the Ten Commandments. Sikh–Wisdom from Enlightened Masters. Muslim–Submit to God’s Will. Hindu–Accepting Others. Buddhist–Mindfulness & Compassion. Native American–Reverence for Nature & the Spirit in All. Jain–Non-Violence to all Life. Bahá’í—Serving People. Christian–Love God, Love & Serve Life. Zoroastrian–Primacy of Fire & Light.” (approved new thought material.)
“New Thought has no dogma or creed but has affinities to idealistic philosophical traditions of all ages and places. (Phineas Parkhurst Quimby: the Complete Writings, Science of Mind by Ernest Holmes, Spirits in Rebellion by Braden) ’Its roots are in Christianity but it is not limited or bound by it.’ (Rev. Wendy Craig-Purcell, Unity). William Hornaday, DD said, ’It is a practical and spiritual approach to life.’ New Thought is not a static or fixed belief system. Ernest Holmes in the Science of Mind says, ’Religious Science is a correlation of laws of science, opinions of philosophy and revelations of all religions. It is the wisdom of the ages, with the essence of the world’s great spiritual traditions offering a universal key to well-being which can be used by anyone, anywhere, at any time’” (approved new thought day material).
Additional Resources: These resource websites are very good. The first shows the family tree of the New Thought Development. The second goes into depth covering at least five influential and historical figures who contributed much to New Thought. The third resource website gives insight into Warren F. Evans, a dynamic man who was alive with belief in mental and spiritual healing. He was a prolific healer.
http://www.newthoughtcsl.org/history
http://warrenfeltevans.wwwhubs.com/
“New Thought believers say ’God is in all, as all and is all’ and “There is one life; that Life is God and that Life is our life now. Ernest Holmes said, “’There is a Power in the universe greater than you are and you can use it.’” “New Thought believes this power was present in Jesus the Christ and that Jesus embodied the ’Christ Principle,’ and used his God given power to teach, and heal for only good.” (Science of Mind, Ernest Holmes) They honor and respect all faiths, cultures, creeds, and races and learn from those who believe the presence of God is within all people, places and things” (approved New Thought day material).
