New Thought Day is 100 years old on August 23rd, 2015
Beginning on the 100th Anniversary of New Thought Day, New Thought Library releases 100 rare classic New Thought Texts through the end of the year.
"The truth ...
has the power not only to renew but to extend itself.
New Thought is universal in its ideals
[and] appeal, in good works ...
embraces many lands
and ... the whole world."
DENVER, CO, USA, August 21, 2015 /EINPresswire.com/ -- New Thought is unique among religions, encompassing a variety of approaches rooted in Ancient Wisdom of different cultures combined with the latest scientific breakthroughs producing a practical approach to life health, joy, abundance and success. Perhaps the oldest form of New Thought is the Navajo Beauty Way which teaches us to "walk in beauty and through seeing good, and affirming good, manifest more good." www.newthought.info/beliefs/— --Mr. James A. Edgerton on New Thought Day, August 23, 1915
Indigenous New Thought is less familiar than Christian New Thought or Vedic New Thought, yet along with Buddhist New Thought and Mental Science (which is essentially an agnostic form of New Thought), attracts the most new adherents.
New Thought is the first religion to promote Universal Spiritual Principles.
New Millennial New Thought embraces the Universal Declaration of Human Rights http://divine.org.nz/beliefs/udhr.html which may be the reason it is attracting so many young dynamic thoughtful and compassionate souls.
If we explore history for a few lines, the Americas have spawned numerous “heresies” and some religions. Aside from the essential indigenous religions, imports that follow Abrahamic memes have been dominating the cultural landscape of the Americas since the Spanish led the first European incursions in the 1400's.
Mormonism, the 4th Abrahamic religion, came onto the scene in the 1820's. This novel Abrahamic religion distinguished itself with new books about a visit by Jesus Christ to the Americas before the Spanish. Big enough to be satirized by South Park in 2003, this new religion is presently a fixture in American culture.
In 1863, midst the American Civil war, the Seventh Day Adventist church was officially established with a new spin on Christianity, the second branch of Abraham. Exploiting a popular meme, the imminent return of Jesus, combined with a unique emphasis on diet, health and character development, Adventists have expanded throughout the world.
The Jehovah's Witnesses burst onto the scene with 'a return to original Christianity.' Rejecting mainstream Christian holidays as 'corrupt pagan influences,' playing on a traditional meme of imminent Abrahamic apocalypse, while objecting to blood transfusions & military service, members have been persecuted worldwide including being gassed in the Nazi Holocaust.
Hot on its heels Mary Baker Eddy promulgated Christian Science. While including the word Science in its name, this new spin on Christianity took a decidedly unscientific approach to illness by declaring all disease to be an illusion corrected by prayer alone. Rejecting allopathic germ "theory," Christian Scientists claim: "disease is a mental rather than physical disorder." Invoking the ire of the A.M.A and being lampooned by Mark Twain did not prevent this group from becoming a powerhouse in 20th Century America pushing the addition of a religious exemption to the Code of Federal Regulations & a special extension of the copyright of Eddy's works.
Some folks dispute the notion that New Thought is an American religion, because it is an international movement. This is true but if we go with the idea that it is an American religion, then it is the first non-abrahamic American religion. What makes New Thought truly unique is the concept of co-creation with the "Divine within" which contrasts with submission to an outside force. New Thought represents a major shift away from this demand for 'submission to an external entity' characteristic of BDSM religions. Thus New Thought heralds a shift in consciousness which is perhaps best reflected by Rianne Eisler's works which promote the partnership paradigm.
New Thought also differentiates itself by embracing science. Promoting the concept that Universal Spiritual Principles are similar to Newton’s Laws of Motion, New Thought teaches that understanding spiritual and physical laws enable us to have more joyful and fulfilling lives.
The spiritual progress promoted by New Thought is reflected throughout the world by policies leading to spiritual awakening, conscious living, and physical well-being. People across the political spectrum embrace New Thought as the paradigm for spiritual progress, knowing that cooperation and co-creation, beginning with personal evolution, is the vehicle for creating “a more compassionate world.”
One of the most basic explanations of how the term "New Thought" arose in the 19th Century, is that New Thought is derived from Romans 12:2: "Do not conform to the patterns of this world, rather be transformed through the renewal of your mind. so that YOU may prove what is highest good, and thereby acceptable as the best demonstration of Divine will."
Today's New Thought adherents pose important questions with the intention of further development of this uniquely individual spiritual path:
~ Is it possible to be truly spiritual without compassion?
~ Can prosperity be achieved & maintained without empowering all children with proper nutrition, good education, economic opportunity and access to medicine?
~ Can peace be attained and continued without the Human Rights articulated within the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948?
~ Is it possible to be spiritual without being responsible for oneself and accountable to others?
In Arena Magazine, a New Thought publication subscribed to by 19th Century writer Thomas Troward, we find articles dealing with nature versus nurture, the latest scientific breakthroughs, philosophical insights and social issues such as the dangers of for profit prisons. Some of the very issues facing societies today were discussed in Arena Magazine over 100 years ago with remarkable clarity and insight. For instance, for-profit prisons lead to a "prison industrial" approach in which private prison corporations maintain stable incomes for their shareholders through the retention of existing inmates, then increase profits by expanding penal populations. Thus recidivism increases profits. This presents a conundrum for those politicians who promote privatization as the solution to all society's problems. In the case of private prisons: Is an increase in profit (which U.S. courts have ruled is an essential quality of corporations) good for the general populace?
It would seem, at least in this case, that what is good for the bottom line of a particular corporation is contrary to the interests of the population, even if the principle that "corporations are people my friend," is upheld by the highest court in the land. This is apparently confirmed by the fact that the United States, through pioneering the privatization of prisons, has the largest prison population in the world both by numbers and percentages. It is sad but true that a significant number of those incarcerated are young African American males. Arena Magazine handled these issues over 100 years ago.
By embracing science as part of spiritual expression, New Thought adherents share a new paradigm which is attracting growing numbers of people. New Thought adherents are often attracted to New Thought teachings regarding individualism. The tools of personal spiritual practice (taught for almost 15 years at www.KeysToHeaven.com) are learned, then usually practiced individually. While New Thought paradigms are attracting people, it should be noted that New Thought Communities are not immune to the tendency of people to abandon weekly meetings characterized by non-comic monologues. From 2011 through 2015, 17% to 21% of the New Thought Communities in the United States closed their doors.
In contrast, online resources produced by the www.NewThought.NET/work collective have ever increasing traffic. In celebration of the 100th Anniversary of New Thought Day on August 23rd, www.NewThoughtLibrary.com releases the first of over 100 rare New Thought texts. Continuing through the end of the year with discussions of the texts occurring on www.NewThoughtRadio.org The library will be releasing additional texts by Dr. John Bascom whose pioneering work Science of Mind was first published in 1881. Bascom's texts will be welcomed by New Millennial New Thought adherents who consider these works to be essential reading. John Bascom's concepts of co-creation, and the belief that the Universe is the product of "divine thought," setting energy and evolution in motion have become key components within New Thought.
The Holmes brothers, Fenwicke and Ernest, continued the exploration of Science of Mind through what they called Religious Science, promoting novel approaches to many of the ideas initially written about by John Bascom as well as adding the ideas of other New Thought writers. Ernest Holmes' version of the book Science of Mind was published in 1927. Influenced by the works of John Bascom, Thomson Hudson, William Atkinson, and amalgamating the ideas of New Thought, Ernest Holmes communicated existing ideas with a clarity apparently unachieved by previous mystics. With support from co-writer Maude Allison Lathem, a third version of Science of Mind was produced in 1938. Not always credited in recent printings, Lathem taught at Holmes' Religious Science Institute. Although the expanded edition of Ernest Holmes 1927 work came into the public domain recently, the second 1927 version of Science of Mind is the favorite of metaphysicians worldwide partly because it explores psychic phenomena.
When we explore the actual history of New Thought, letting go of the 19th Century New Thought mythology created primarily to combat the aggressive attacks of Mary Baker Eddy (creator of Christian Science), we begin to unveil a history which is actually far more interesting and productive than the traditional organizational mythology which presents New Thought as the creation of Phineas Quimby.
Insightful New Thought leaders are taking advantage of a wonderful writing program which enables new and experienced writers to create an online App automating presentation of daily spiritual insights and positive affirmations for use on their websites and social media accounts. Presented at www.DivineJournal.com, the works can also be processed, then published as books through Amazon while being promoted through www.NewThoughtBook.info
Rev. Donna Williams recently published her Divine Journal: Ageless Wisdom through Amazon. It is a wonderful book. In a recent interview Avalon related that a number of additional Divine Journals, including some powerful collaborative works, could be published before the end of the year. This may include Divine Journal's by Rev. Walling, Rev. Berry, Rev. McFadden and others. Sponsors of listings in the www.FindACenter.com directory system may promote New Thought Books through www.NewThoughtBook.info
Senior Sage and New Thought Wisdom Holder Glenn Chaffin is promoting his books, including The Teachings of Jesus through the website: http://the-teachings-of-jesus.newthoughtbook.info/
New Thought is a unique religion in that adherents share Universal Spiritual Principles yet take different approaches, or paths, within the New Thought movement. There is more than one way to the top of the mountain. These paths within New Thought are essentially: Vedic New Thought, Abrahamic New Thought, Buddhist New Thought, Science of Mind, Indigenous New Thought, and Mental Science.
A. ~ "Mental Science" describes a form of New Thought that focuses solely upon mind training to manifest personal evolution. Mental Science adherents are sometimes, if not often, agnostic or atheist, believing that all transformation originates within the individual mind without reliance upon any greater mind or power. For the Mental Scientist, Universal Spiritual Principles are found within the biochemical processes held in common by all thinking individuals. These principles are physical but enable transcendence through mastery of the mind and body. Some Mental Scientists like to refer to Carl Sagan's works and the recent film Zeitgeist as essential reading to understand their point of view. "Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, wakens." ~ Carl Jung
B. ~ Science of Mind originated with John Bascom in the 19th Century. His works, including Science, Philosophy And Religion (1871); Ethics (1879); Natural Theology (1880); and The Science Of Mind (1881) had a profound impact throughout the United States inspiring and informing the creation of Divine Science toward the end of the 19th Century. In the 20th Century, the Holmes brothers (Ernest and Fenwicke) expounded their Religious Science form of Science of Mind which some say is the highest form of 20th Century New Thought. Whereas Bascom focused on ethics and the importance of highest good, the Holmes brothers focused on the "motor" of New Thought, (Change your thinking and thereby change your life.) carefully emphasizing that their Religious Science form of Science of Mind can be applied regardless of one's disposition.
Most institutes flogging the Religious Science form of New Thought rarely, if ever, mention Holmes’ major influences: John Bascom, Thomson Hudson and William Atkinson etc…. This could be because Ernest Holmes never used citations, perhaps the result of a lack of formal education. Because New Thought is the rational alternative to “revealed religion,” New Thought Library is supporting patrons to explore the roots of Religious Science, as well as Science of Mind.
"While healing to the mental scientist is brought about by exercising the power of mind over body; to the Divine Scientist health is the natural state of the individual and is only waiting for his realization of perfection as his divine heritage. Health always is universal, but we do not always realize it." http://newthoughtlibrary.com/brooksNona/mysteries/my_061.htm#TopOfText
Opposing the New Thought movement, Mary Baker Eddy wrote a book about Divine Science and Science of Mind in 1891 called Rudimentary Divine Science. http://divinescience.net/texts/divine-science-by-eddy.html This book was written largely to co-opt 19th Century New Thought leaders who were using the terms Science of Mind and Divine Science to describe various New Thought Forms.
C. ~ Abrahamic New Thought includes Christian New Thought and Jewish Science. The Universal Foundation for Better Living is the best representative of Christian New Thought, but it also includes Unity which was founded by the Fillmore family. http://fillmore.newthoughtlibrary.com
D. ~ Vedic New Thought, which is rooted within the Hindu Vedas is taught by the Centers for Spiritual Awareness which is led by Roy Eugene Davis. Davis was the anointed disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda, but left the Self Realization Fellowship to create his own organization. Swami Abhedananda’s work http://vedic.newthoughtlibrary.com provides good insights into this New Thought form.
E. Buddhist New Thought, includes both Lotus Sutra New Thought & Seicho No Ie (the largest New Thought organization in the world today). Seicho No Ie has strong representation throughout Latin America and other parts of the free world. Tian of Siam also teaches a Buddhist New Thought Form.
F. Indigenous New Thought encompasses the Navajo Beauty Way, which is the oldest form of New Thought, as well as DivineUnity and Druidic New Thought which is rooted within Celtic Wisdom Ways and is becoming popular among indigenous Europeans throughout Europe who are embracing new forms of ancient wisdom teaching compassion while embracing science and eco friendly lifestyles.
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Individuals choosing New Thought as a spiritual path, evolve their own personal expression within the spectrum of New Thought. This begins with embracing the concept of co-creation, realizing that spiritual laws do not require “submission,” because ignoring such laws is akin to being unaware of Newton's Laws of Motion. Being ignorant of gravity does not prevent one from falling. Unpleasant consequences do not need to be implemented by a supernatural anthropomorphic force. New Millennial New Thought folks include the Universal Declaration of Human Rights within their belief systems and all New Thought adherents understand that New Thought is "powered by" the principle: “As we change our thinking, we change our lives.”
Explore listings of New Thought Communities at www.FindACenter.com
Beginning August 23rd, visit www.NewThoughtLibrary.com to access the new releases
To learn about New Thought Holidays and other events go to www.NewThought.events
Explore New Thought Beliefs, Spiritual Practices and more at www.NewThought.info
Avalon de Rossett
NewThought.NET/work
505-216-6397
email us here
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