The New Thought movement, emerging in the 19th century as a spiritual healing movement, posits that reality is largely shaped by one’s attitudes and beliefs.
Rooted in the teachings of Phineas Quimby and Emma Curtis Hopkins, it emphasizes the power of optimism and the inherent divinity within each individual. New Thought avoids rigid dogma, instead focusing on the practical application of its principles for personal betterment.
Central to New Thought is the concept of “mind power,” suggesting that physical and emotional well-being, as well as material success, are influenced by conscious thought and affirmation. Proponents believe that by aligning one’s thoughts with universal spiritual or mental laws, individuals can attract desired outcomes into their lives.
Some have accused New Thought of being overly focused on material prosperity, but a mature and equitable understanding of New Thought isn’t about becoming wealthy or getting every wish granted or winning every competition, but rather training one’s thoughts and emotions to create mental atmospheres that can make life better wherever improvement is needed or desired. Like any technique, therapy, or business plan, New Thought spirituality helps one find ways to pursue goals without judging oneself or others for how they are achieved or how long it takes them to be reached. It isn’t magic; it’s a principle put into practice.
This philosophy gained traction through teachers and writers like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Science of Mind author Ernest Holmes, Unity School of Christianity founders Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, and Divine Science founder Malinda Cramer.
Women were early leaders in New Thought, and as spiritual healing practitioners, they found a career at a time when professional opportunities were not abundant for women.
New Thought theology affirms Spirit or Mind or Energy as being the source and substance of all reality, sees sin as error in judgment, atonement not as bridging a gap between humanity and God but understanding that there can be no gap between humanity and God/Spirit/divine Mind (at-one-ment). New Thought teachers who study the Bible tend to interpret it allegorically and symbolically. Jesus in New Thought is considered a master teacher but not uniquely divine, as all people are part of the universal divine life. Most in New Thought agree that life is endless, but there are many ideas about what that might look like beyond this human experience.
New Thought’s affirming, loving, non-condemning, optimistic, and non-dogmatic teachings have become popular with many LGBTQ+ people. New Thought doesn’t condemn LGBTQ+ people, or divorce, or consensual, caring sexual expression, or much of anything that supports one’s happiness and wellbeing that doesn’t harm others.
New Thought philosophy influenced the 12 Step Movement, Norman Vincent Peale’s Power of Positive Thinking, and various self-help authors and groups. It shares many ideas in common with A Course in Miracles, The Secret, the writings of Louise Hay, and the metaphysics of Rev. Ike. Its enduring appeal lies in its optimistic message of human potential.
Sunshine Cathedral embraces New Thought philosophy and offers a ministerial training program in the New Thought tradition known as Divine Science. Our senior minister is a life member of the International New Thought Alliance and is the current president of the Divine Science Federation. There are several Divine Science ministers and practitioners in leadership at Sunshine Cathedral.
