High Mysticism

A Series of 12 Studies
in the Wisdom of the Ages

by Emma Curtis Hopkins

Notes from New Thought Library:

Emma Curtis Hopkins is lionized as the "Teacher of Teachers" because so many of her students went on to teach, write books and extend the New Thought movement through the creation of churches. Some of these New Thought churches grew, created satellites, then evolved into denominations. In 2000, there were at least ten denominations of New Thought ranging from DivineUnity to Religious Science. If you hear the terms "transdenomination," do not be confused, this is simply a word used by some to describe the universal acceptance of all souls at New Thought Communities.

While core principles remain the same, each "transdenomination" has a different emphasis concerning the teaching of New Thought and or the roots of New Thought principles.

The history of New Thought demonstrates that there will be more "transdenominations" in the future. New Thought is in a state of perpetual evolution. The history of New Thought reflects a pattern in which New Thought organizations grow, bureaucratize, then fade away as the rules they create block the very growth they seek.

At the dawning of the New Millennium, New Thought Practitioners often stated that their greatest challenge was "loneliness." This can be ascribed to the fact that the beginning of the epoch was characterized by international polarization encouraged by simplistic anti-scientific attitudes prompted by violent end times prophecies promoted by angry Abrahamic fundamentalists from all four quadrants of Abrahamic thought systems.

Due to a tendency within some New Thought organizations to blame the victim by focusing all responsibility for any situation on the shoulders of the person experiencing it, New Thought practitioners often feel adrift when confronted with problems not of their own creation. New Thought practitioners tend to avoid sharing their challenges because this form of magical thinking can be extended from the economic sphere to personal health as well as deeds perpetrated against the adherent.

Such magical thinking characterizes New Thought Fundamentalism which at its extreme makes the victim responsible for the crime of the perpetrator. This type of delusion is akin to believing that 'stepping on a sidewalk crack, will break someone's back.'

What provides a basis for such extreme thought?

When reviewing New Thought principles, we find the answer when the "oneness" principle is taken to extreme. This is the principle which states that "since Great Spirit flows through all things, we are all one through the Divine."

Thus within all religions, including New Thought, there are fundamentalists who prefer easy answers to challenging questions. Those who are aware and demonstrating consciousness do not cleave to such absurd viewpoints, but there are some misguided souls who do. At one extreme, we find individuals who believe that the entire world is created from their minds and that everything and everyone is a delusion. Such attitudes lead to a loss of compassion.

The fact that the essence of New Thought is constant renewal through absorbing scientific breakthroughs and enfolding deeper understanding to achieve higher wisdom and greater insight makes New Thought unique among today's religions.