New Thought was the name given the philosophy of Phineas Quimby which can be summed up: “The infinitude of the Supreme One; the Divinity of man and his infinite possibilities through the creative power of constructive thinking and obedience to the voice of the indwelling Presence, which is our source of Inspiration, Power, Health and Prosperity.”

It’s a beautiful philosophy, and was an inspiration in the development of Mary Baker Eddy’s Christian Science religion with the belief that the physical is not truly real, and that healing of disease occurs by virtue of the presence of Truth.

In addition to Christian Science, the New Thought is influential in three major, but distinct, religious denominations within the American New Thought movement: Unity Church, Science of Mind, and the Church of Divine Science.

As sources of inspiration and knowledge, all of these movements have great value but they are not in themselves practical programs or self-transformation leading to that integration of personality with the Higher Self.