I'm still fine with people calling me an ex new ager. It's easier to remember. I'm, like, 80% ex new thoughter, 20% ex new ager. But it's so important to know that both of these aren't the same thing. I still have a lot to learn, but am enjoying the journey.
I'm learning so much as well...I am so thankful to have been led to Doreen Virtue, as I, too, was raised in Christian Science 😔 (New thought!) Just as delighted to have found you through Doreen as well! 🤗 I 'came to Jesus' at age 14, but took some sideroads as an adult 🙄 After the Lord had Mercy & rescued me almost 25 years ago, He's helped me find the Discipleship I missed being raised in C.S... I'm 71YO now, and it's been a slow slog🙄 I appreciate this post SO much- perhaps the Lord will include your using your own experiences and research to actually be able to offer a tutorial/mentoring Class at some point! I would sure sign up! I can see Doreen in that picture. God is surely continuing to gift you both❣Thank you, and the Lord's best Blessings during Thanksgiving and Christmas! 🛐📖🔥🕊❤
Regardless if it’s new age/thought or Christ consciousness, it’s all reskinned ancient religions…As is the outer space, heliocentric model. It’s all about putting on the spiritual (astronaut suit) and transcending to a godlike state by reaching for the stars. It’s all the same old lie repackaged for modern day people.
Wow, New Thought sounds exactly like the Word Of Faith, Modern Mega Churches basically it sounds like modern heretical "Christianity". , It makes sense why Melissa would think these views are Christian because it's the most popular "Christian"" views and of course they not actually taught in the Bible.
To be clear, Melissa said that people think these are Christian. They look like Christian. She USED to sort of think a bit of thought & new age.... she doesn't think that anymore. She gave a GREAT explaination.
This is the reason people need to clarify what people mean when they say certain things by asking questions. They could say what sounds the same, but is totally different.
My mother was more into the occult, but my Dad was a Christian Scientist. The two terms "New Thought" and "Gnosticism" were not on my radar until recent years. I was looking into the accusation that Mary Baker Eddy (Christian Science) had plagiarized from Phineas Quimby who is credited with being one of the leaders of the New Thought Movement. I also discovered a helpful and general description of Gnosticism in my NIV study notes in 1st John. I'm anxious for further discussion of this, as it has been a source of confusion for much of my life. When I accepted Christ as my Savior, it raised quite a stir in my Family - They couldn't understand how I had regressed to a more primitive materialistic and literal view
Melissa, this was so timely. Your shaking off the last vestiges of the deceptive slime we are drowning in publicly is a wonderful part of your testimony of Christ actually bearing good fruit. ❤❤❤❤❤
You obviously are passionate about these systems/movements. I imagine you were quite a powerhouse as a new believer, too! I’ll watch anything you produce. We have to have ppl who are brave enough to go out on a limb and explain (over and over if necessary). New Thought is a pernicious lie. It is practically undetectable without someone willing to divide the Word of Truth from this lie! Thank you!
This is very interesting to me. Thanks for explaining it. I see I was new age and not new thought, but as a new Christian I can say I saw new thought everywhere in the church. I am glad you are speaking on this...this is an area that really needs attention.
My cousin is into new thought. She never read the Bible. She once asked me where in the Bible can she read about Christ consciousness, and when I told her there is no such thing in the Bible she was shocked. They also think Bible is not complete, and that they have found some scrolls that are the true Bible. Her brother and herself and fighting very serious illnesses. She told me she is doing what Jesus did: she said "They asked Jesus how he heals people, and Jesus replied he imagines them in their glory." I told her there is no such thing in Bible. She said "well then how did he heal people?" I said because He was God. He just spoke the words and they came true. She was speechless. I am so afraid for her and don't know how to make her see the truth.
Yeah I was raised in the word of faith and deconstructed into new thought, which turn into new age, which turned into witchcraft before I heard the true gospel and Jesus saved me.
I am so glad that God has placed it on your heart to “annoy” us with this ! Your videos are so necessary. You do not realize how much these videos are currently helping me. Lord willing, maybe one day, I’ll share my numerous testimonies on TH-cam when I have the courage to do so. But as of right now, I only pray that your videos reaches the audience that you are trying to target. I pray that your videos will wake these self-professing Christians from their sleep and cause them to turn from their errors. Keep doing what you are doing !
I was into both New Age and New Thought and have heard New Thought referred to as Christian Science. And that was part of the appeal for me. I was introduced to New Thought by Wallace D. Wattles and his books The Science of Getting Rich and the Science of Being Well and Florence Scovel Shinn's books Your Word is Your Wand and The Game of Life and How to Play It. I was so lost and confused, but now I am found by the grace of the Heavenly Father. 🙏🏿 Great video Melissa! Thank you.
How comfortable Christ Consciousness concept is...God is within me so therefore I don't have to aim, to look, to seek His Presence, I'm self reliant, I can do everything for myself. Incredible arrogance. I pray for all who have been deceived to come to their senses.
I didn't find it comfortable at all, the opposite in fact, there was a great gaping hole that no matter what I did, who I sought answers from or meditated on never felt fulfilled, these forms of self serving beliefs just take you round and round in never ending circles and keeps you hooked in under the premise that if it's all within then it must be me, I'm missing something, I'm doing it wrong, I need more answers and on and on and on it goes.
Great video. I think I have been into every aspect of both until I felt like I was at a dead end and indeed I was. Relativism is so insidious and it's everywhere. Thank you for shining a light on it.
I would put it this way (the short version): while they both believe in "inner Divinity" and most likely a lack of belief in Hell, the main dfferences are: New AGE, is more into Crystals, Gemstones, Reiki and Tarot cards, etc and New THOUGHT, is more into thinking of God more as an "energy" than a personal God, and as something you can USE to get what you want (by your own "power") rather than asking "someone else" (God) in Prayer. New Thought, is older. New Age was more of a 70's-8o's thing. (The longer version). New Thought seems to have begun with Phinaes Parkhurst Quimby. I'd love to find out who may have mentored him or what books most infuenced him, but anyway... Also, in the 1880's, Charles & Myrtle Fillmore founded "Unity School of Christianity" or as more known today "Unity Church" or even just "Unity". They are still active today. The headquarters is in Lee's Summit, Missouri. Then, there was also Warren Felt Evans, and also Mary Baker Eddy and the Christian Science churches. All of these sort of grew and "percolated" and then, even before 1910, psychologist/philosopher William James pretty-much referred to all this as: "the Mind Cure movement" (but it was all under the New Thought "umbrella". Zooming Out and looking at the Big picture on a timeline from 1850 to 1950....I'd say the Giant "Main Players" in all this were: 1. Quimby - 1800's 2. the Fillmores and Unity Church (probably more popular with the public than Quimby). Still active today. 3. Ernest Holmes and "The Science of Mind" (both a Church and a book by that name). Holmes died in 1960. I think it would be hard to argue that these aren't "The Big 3". There were others, such Mary Baker Eddy and the Science or Mind churches but i feel they are MORE concerned with positive-affirmation prayers and a focus on health (or in their case, denying sickness). There were also people such as: Emerson (aTranscendentalist), Emma Curtis Hopkins, Warren Felt Evans, H, Emilie Cady (died 1925) and later Ernest Holmes (founder of Science of Mind and a book by the same name. Holmes died in 1960. Norman Vincent Peale, author of the Power of Positive Thinking was strongly influenced by Holmes but Peale took a less "mind power" appraoch and a more sort of "Christianized" approach. After Peale, we had Robert Schuller and the Crystal Cathedral church, then Kenneth Copeland and on and on). So, "today", when we have folks like: Kenneth Copeland Benny Hinn Word of Faith Joel Osteen Robert Fuller (deceased) Norman Vincent Peale Joyce Meyer Creflo Dollar and on and on, and now even the Law of Attraction....it all goes back to New Thought and 188o's-ish roots. May God Bless Melissa in her future endeavors! She keeps it real. (Hi-five!)
Thanks for showing the error of New Thought. It is amazing how this has influenced the Church. Not just NRA and Prosperity but also Progressive Christianity. I realised that this teaching was prominent in the 70s & 80s in Sales Coaching through Robert Schuller and Og Mindino.
About 11 years ago, my father, mother, sister, and brother-in-law went into New Thought. At the time, there was little literature available to help me discern their newfound belief. I would ask them questions and write down the answers just so I could research the phrases. It took me three years to narrow their beliefs down to Gnosticism/New Thought. It took me an additional two years to have a conversation with them about it due to the many rabbit holes I would encounter. Talking to them was like walking in the fog... it was hard to see them. Melissa, I'm so grateful you've done the work and will publish your findings so that others won't have to scramble to find the answers. It's a very elusive belief system, so I'm glad you are helping others nail some things down. Thank you for being obedient.
I was raised in a Protestant home, always attended church and considered myself Christian. I began reading self help books to deal with stress and happiness (by Hay House authors) in 2000 and over 15 years New Age and New Thought were introduced to me. Unknowingly. In 2016 I became a member of a much more Biblical church and realized it. Sadly, it’s small steps that move a person way of course.
Thanks Melissa. This brings a lot of clarity to what I am seeing in the church right now. It is hard to recognize. I new from the first few weeks the church I was going to said many things I couldnt agree with. But as you said, ecause they blend, or bend scripture in its hard to recognize. Once you trust the spirit of God within you to guide in all truth, then you start to see these New Age teaching everywhere. Not just in the mega churches, but in the small churches to.
I'm new to the faith though I grew up in the church. None of these concepts were explained to me and I really appreciate you breaking them down in an easily digestible way. It's helping me to parse through all the information sent to me and build up my discernment muscle. God bless you sister!
Yeah, I referenced the video I made on this in the past and even read an excerpt from it. Also, in recent deep-dive videos, I've mentioned this info too. I've never done an in depth video on it though, which is what this is.
I was reading Dr. Caroline Leaf book/devotional. I got to day 165 when I finally realized she is teaching new thought. Every single day you read "your true self". I threw the book in the trash.
I agree that New Thought is much more dangerous. That’s where I now see that this is where I was in my 30+ years in a charismatic church. Such overlap in “scriptural” interpretation, and as a teenager I was so attracted to the “secret power” that I craved over my life. I’m just so grateful to have your explanation- it helps me make sense of things as I keep untangling my prior misunderstanding and establish truthful understanding of scripture. Thanks so much!
I was able to locate a book published in 1890 on witchcraft. It is a miracle the book survived. Before giving myself to Christ, I belonged to various pagan, Wiccan, and Druid groups. The "witchcraft" in the 1890 bore no resemblance to the paganism practiced today. "New Age" literally is new.
New Thought is extremely seductive. I lost a dear friend several years ago into the false "Christ Consciousness" belief. She believed God was speaking to her directly to "correct" the errors in Scripture. Despite several, multi-hour long discussions with her, and even a semi-public debate with her, she remained lost. Your explanation of New Thought and Christ Consciousness is spot on. Thank you so much for everything you are doing, Melissa!
Thank you for doing this research and for writing your book. I am going to get a few copies and and give them to Christians I love who practice these principals and think they are biblical.
Since I'm less than a year of a born-again Christian I NOW see as in reading and hearing the Bible some of the scripture new thought/ new age cherry picked from the Bible. I remember hearing, "I am, that I am" or "be still and know" which my mom's spiritual center (that I used to attend) had a closing song about. I have mistakingly been using "new age" as a category for these philosophies / beliefs that are new thought. I'm glad you are clarifying this in your book. I do need to order copy.
So timely as this stuff is everywhere! “Christian” influencers peddle new thought all over IG. Convincing someone this stuff is not biblical is so challenging. Because you are the narrow minded one missing out on “true Christianity”. 🙄
I was raised in a Protestant home, always attended church and considered myself Christian. I began reading self help books to deal with stress and happiness (by Hay House authors) in 2000 and over 15 years New Age and New Thought were introduced to me. Unknowingly. In 2016 I became a member of a much more Biblical church and realized it. Sadly, it’s small steps that move a person way of course. Excellent video and work Melissa.
In the 1970s when I was a teenager, it appears I was practicing new thought along with my Christian search to be closer to Christ. I was truly born again about 5 years ago. Satan sets many traps in a lot of people’s journeys.
Would you consider “Ikigai” to be a new thought practice or concept? I have a friend who’s super into all of the new thought stuff you mentioned and when I was struggling with career choices she told me about Ikigai...now I’m a little sus about this seemingly brilliant concept…😒
First time watching but this video explains something that had perplexed me. People who claimed to be Christians who seemed to go off on Evangelical (I hadn't really understood what the difference was in their minds) as well as so many professed Christians who believed in the sins of the father transferring to the children *ie:reparations and white guilt* So much of that goes against Christian teaching but now I understand why Very informative
Not specifically New Thought. I believe there is some overlap with beliefs, as the point of the enneagram is to lead you to your "True Self." But it is more aligned with people like Richard Rohr who is sort of a hodgepodge of spirituality ranging from Catholicism, perrenialism, new thought, mysticism and progressive Christianity.
What I'm missing is information about new age in the sense of 'a new era, a paradigm shift, the age of Aaquarius'. And in that sense, it also means leaving behind 'old thought' and accepting 'new thought'.
Sure, it could be about accepting a new way of thinking, but New Thought itself is its own movement. It has its own set of beliefs and claims to be Christian. New Thought would align itself with the acceptance of this as it's a position of spiritual tolerance. But the "Age of Aquarius" is originated with New Age, and not a New Thought idea touted as a Christian concept. Hope that's helpful
@@MelissaDoughertythanks for the clarification. I should have realised that the distinction is that New Thought specifically calls itself 'Christian'.
I don't want to drag this out, there are more important things, but I've been searching a bit and Constance Cumbey, who wrote 'Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow' (of which I publish the Dutch edition), says in her book that one of the names the New Age Movement is also known by is New Thought. I remembered that vaguely, and that is why I mentioned it here. I get what you are trying to say, but perhaps it's interesting to dig a bit deeper and find out why she puts it under the New Age umbrella. New Thought is mentioned in this list in her book (a list with other names for the New Age Movement), quote: 'The Aquarius Conspiracy, Humanistic Psychology, Network Movement, New Thought Religion, New Church, The Third Wave, The Third Force, New Consciousness, Transcendental Movement, Human Potential Movement, New Spirituality, Secular Humanism, Humanism.'
I LOVE your videos! But, I have to admit that this one was THE MOST SUCCINCT one I've watched on the "New Age" topic. I say "New Age", because in the past 18 -20 years of reading up about occultism (in it's various forms ... & there are many!) infiltrating the church, I've never heard of New Thought. You have just added another piece to the puzzle for me. Thank you for your steadfastness and warning to the church!❤
Thanks so much for these videos. My daughter is deeply into New Thought, I knew she was going astray but couldn’t identify what was going on. She is very unreceptive to differing opinions so I don’t know how to broach this with her. Have you already done a video on how you learned the truth, became a Christian? I would be very interested to hear what lead you to see the truth.
I came from three generations of new thought. My great grandma (my maternal grandfather’s mother) was a Christian Scientist, my mom and grandma were students of A Course in Miracles.” I accepted Jesus’ invitation and gift when I was 10. However I struggled with maturing because of the confusion of my multigenerational New Thought influence that was so ingrained in our family life. I am still having revelation of what is the actual Truth. The fact that Jesus was physically resurrected was a recent revelation. I somehow after all of these years of studying the word I kept over looking that he literally was physically resurrected and is physically vs spiritually existing in heaven sitting at the right hand of God interceding for His flock. Definitely New thought Christianity is very detrimental and dangerous for Christians.
I guess I'm glad I never got involved in those. Way too much work for my interests. I'm glad you explained them. I'm also thankful to be OLD age (yes chronological as well as spiritually) and OLD thought (going for what has stood the test of time). I am a servant of God Almighty through submission to and cleansing of sin and the teaching of Jesus Christ, having been born again baptized by His Holy Spirit. Thank you, Melissa, for your teaching and confirmational challenge for me to live what I claim to be. I cannot be the Christ aka Messiah. Only He is and will be.
You said yoga is new age? I have done yoga before to help with muscle issues I have however I do not practice the meditation yoga stuff. I use for the stretching of my body. Is that wrong also? My husband doesn't want me to do yoga at all because of the roots of it. I only do the "Christian yoga". Just curious on your perspective on this?
I've heard the positions themselves and the order they're done in are deliberately to chosen to worship the Hindu gods. They're supposed to help you "channel." I used to enjoy yoga too, just for the stretching, but now I just do my own stretches. Pilates might be a good alternative.
Allow me, I believe you can't take demonic things and "make it christian", just as you can't have "christian witchcraft", the influences are still there, eeven if disguised. A better alternative for your health can be pilates.
Yoga is a Sanskrit word meaning "to unite." The purpose of yoga is a practice meant to unite with the Hindu deity Brahman. Sri Chinmoy said that most people in the west don't understand what they are getting into when they practice yoga.
It’s like cooking. If someone were to make you decide to boycott French cuisine (go with the metaphor) that doesn’t mean you have to stop eating eggs and onions and flour. It means you don’t eat stylistic French dishes. Other skill sets can teach stretching and body weight strength.
These three first responses are excellent. There is no such thing as "Christian yoga" in reality. It is, at best, yoga-light, yoga repackaged to bridge a gap and deceive. I see many churches with yoga advertised in some form, but I wouldn't go for a heartbeat, or attend a church.that offers this.
New Thought borrows some things from The "Name it, claim it" word of faith movement. The idea that we can speak things into our lives so we must not speak negative words. Of course, one has to have enough faith, speak in tongues (babbling nonsense), etc. I came out of that when I was a baby Christian as it was such a bondage. I thought I was not good enough because I could not genuinely "speak n tongues" (so I faked it) or seem to have enough faith to make things happen. All these false teachings, of course, point away from Jesus and the true Word of God. Works based bondage. Thank you going into detail so we can understand the deception of these false teachings and teachers. Jesus said, "Do not be deceived".
I am currently seeing a Christian counselor. She is a pastor’s wife. We are doing EMDR, to help with my PTSD/anxiety. I was extremely cautious about it initially. I believe it is similiar to tapping. She insist it is not new age but scientifically based. Eventually, I went ahead and started EMDR. I am confused now. Does anyone know if EMDR is new age?
As someone who is currently Jesus curious (reading the Bible for the first time) and has definitely spent lots of time with New Thought beliefs, how do you reconcile when manifesting “works?” For example, I know lots of hippie people (I have had a TM practice for years) that would fall under your New Thought definition (along with some New Age ideas too) who will tell you that they focused on what they wanted, got into a “higher vibration” and then it actually happened in their life? I feel like this happened when I met my husband. So…. If the New Thought ideas aren’t true, then how do you explain that? It’s just coincidence? I hope you will make a video about this (I’m super open to your thoughts!).
I would love to hear your analysis of the “crystal vortex” phenomenon around Sedona Arizona and the “intentionality” involved in charging crystals. It seems to be a confluence of new age and new thought but I don’t have much experience in that world view.
The hardest thing for me is explaining this to Christians entangled in this form of deception, notably the Bill Johnson’s of the world. I recently failed miserably.
You wouldn't happen to have a PDF of your Venn Diagram there, would you? These videos on New Thought have been a big help for me. I'm currently prepping for the final lesson on a comparative religion "unit" I've been doing with our church's Jr. High kids and the final session will be on the Christian heresies like New Thought, Mormonism, JW, Prosperity Gospel, & Christian Science (which is more gnostic than New Thought is).
Not too long ago you had on the authors of Critical Dilemma who traced a line of thought from the Critical studies and other things through Marxism and the Frankfurt school. You also teach about New Thought and touch upon Western Esotericism and have briefly mentioned Hermetic teachings. I would encourage you to look into how these two supposedly different disorders are connected directly through Hegel and the Kabbalist/Esoteric progenitors he was influenced by. These are not two separate battles, but the very root of a spiritual war that has kept adapting in the shadows for over 1,800 years
I hadn't realized how much of either has crept into society. I REALLY hadn't realized that it had crept in under the guise of Christianity as I have always attended traditional services which stick to traditional scripture and interpretations I remember in the 80s when the traditional churches were bashing on each other over things that seem so trivial now compared to the stuff that would make all if those yelling at each other back then collectively pass out rn. Back then not exclusively using The King James version of the Bible was proof you were going to burn in Hell. I think I'd pay good money to see the apoplectic fit an 80s radio evangelist would have if they time travelled to rn. Back to the Future 4: The Battle of the Classic Christian vs the New Thought Christian Idk... maybe a reach. The on the air battles of yester year seem almost ridiculous now compared what they would find today
I made it a few years ago. I'm very surprised people still remember it lol it only got a few thousand views. But I reference that older video in this video because a lot of the information in the older video wasn't correct. Hence, why I made this one.
All that science stuff reminds me of the stuff Joe Dispenza talks about... I never understood what he was talking about but it sounded like it backed up all the other new thought content I was consuming
After watching this video a video with you and Alisa Childers and seeing how "progressive Christianity" and new age and new thought overlap and is leading Christians away.
Is Catholicism new thought? I mean all the extra biblical stuff they believe in they claim is equal to scripture. Are their beliefs considered gnostic?
Catholicism is self described as so old that it certainly grew up right alongside the original gnostics and the early church had to cast some of them out. Apparently something called “neognosticism” which advocates for secret knowledge and adhering to rules for salvation is pretty slippery and can hide in any church branch including Catholicism.
I'm still fine with people calling me an ex new ager. It's easier to remember. I'm, like, 80% ex new thoughter, 20% ex new ager. But it's so important to know that both of these aren't the same thing.
I still have a lot to learn, but am enjoying the journey.
I'm learning so much as well...I am so thankful to have been led to Doreen Virtue, as I, too, was raised in Christian Science 😔 (New thought!) Just as delighted to have found you through Doreen as well! 🤗 I 'came to Jesus' at age 14, but took some sideroads as an adult 🙄 After the Lord had Mercy & rescued me almost 25 years ago, He's helped me find the Discipleship I missed being raised in C.S... I'm 71YO now, and it's been a slow slog🙄 I appreciate this post SO much- perhaps the Lord will include your using your own experiences and research to actually be able to offer a tutorial/mentoring
Class at some point! I would
sure sign up! I can see Doreen in that picture. God is surely continuing to gift you both❣Thank you, and the Lord's best Blessings during Thanksgiving and Christmas! 🛐📖🔥🕊❤
Wow. A lot to take in. Thanks for explaining a lot of it, though.
Regardless if it’s new age/thought or Christ consciousness, it’s all reskinned ancient religions…As is the outer space, heliocentric model. It’s all about putting on the spiritual (astronaut suit) and transcending to a godlike state by reaching for the stars. It’s all the same old lie repackaged for modern day people.
Wow, New Thought sounds exactly like the Word Of Faith, Modern Mega Churches basically it sounds like modern heretical "Christianity". , It makes sense why Melissa would think these views are Christian because it's the most popular "Christian"" views and of course they not actually taught in the Bible.
That's no coincidence. That's chapter 8 in my book, Happy Lies.
To be clear, Melissa said that people think these are Christian. They look like Christian. She USED to sort of think a bit of thought & new age.... she doesn't think that anymore. She gave a GREAT explaination.
Yes, this makes so much sense now, nê? Her previous video on this made on this made me realise this.
I always knew something was off, now I know
Love this breakdown! So important to understand these subtleties that can easily creep its way into the church and our doctrine.
This is the reason people need to clarify what people mean when they say certain things by asking questions. They could say what sounds the same, but is totally different.
She said “Whigity whack”!😂 New Thought is very deceptive and I used to be caught in that trap. I really like the way Melissa breaks this down.
What about Taylor Welsh? Is he new thought?
My mother was more into the occult, but my Dad was a Christian Scientist. The two terms "New Thought" and "Gnosticism" were not on my radar until recent years. I was looking into the accusation that Mary Baker Eddy (Christian Science) had plagiarized from Phineas Quimby who is credited with being one of the leaders of the New Thought Movement. I also discovered a helpful and general description of Gnosticism in my NIV study notes in 1st John. I'm anxious for further discussion of this, as it has been a source of confusion for much of my life. When I accepted Christ as my Savior, it raised quite a stir in my Family - They couldn't understand how I had regressed to a more primitive materialistic and literal view
Been in that same spot...🛐
But God...👐📖🙏🎶🔥🕊
Blessings...💞
Melissa, this was so timely. Your shaking off the last vestiges of the deceptive slime we are drowning in publicly is a wonderful part of your testimony of Christ actually bearing good fruit. ❤❤❤❤❤
Thank you for your humility and honesty. Never lose that. Enjoy your content because of this honest reflection. God bless you!
You obviously are passionate about these systems/movements. I imagine you were quite a powerhouse as a new believer, too! I’ll watch anything you produce. We have to have ppl who are brave enough to go out on a limb and explain (over and over if necessary). New Thought is a pernicious lie. It is practically undetectable without someone willing to divide the Word of Truth from this lie! Thank you!
Beautifully said!
This is very interesting to me. Thanks for explaining it. I see I was new age and not new thought, but as a new Christian I can say I saw new thought everywhere in the church. I am glad you are speaking on this...this is an area that really needs attention.
My cousin is into new thought. She never read the Bible. She once asked me where in the Bible can she read about Christ consciousness, and when I told her there is no such thing in the Bible she was shocked. They also think Bible is not complete, and that they have found some scrolls that are the true Bible. Her brother and herself and fighting very serious illnesses. She told me she is doing what Jesus did: she said "They asked Jesus how he heals people, and Jesus replied he imagines them in their glory." I told her there is no such thing in Bible. She said "well then how did he heal people?" I said because He was God. He just spoke the words and they came true. She was speechless.
I am so afraid for her and don't know how to make her see the truth.
Thank you for sharing some of your thoughts and experiences on this issue.
New Thought sounds like the prosperity gospel.
Yes, she says this in another video. She mentions Joel Olsteen as an example
Exactly! And I was heavily into Joel Osteen who's preaching reeks of New Thought.
Yeah I was raised in the word of faith and deconstructed into new thought, which turn into new age, which turned into witchcraft before I heard the true gospel and Jesus saved me.
We still need to be praying for our country 🙏🇺🇸🙏
I am so glad that God has placed it on your heart to “annoy” us with this !
Your videos are so necessary. You do not realize how much these videos are currently helping me.
Lord willing, maybe one day, I’ll share my numerous testimonies on TH-cam when I have the courage to do so. But as of right now, I only pray that your videos reaches the audience that you are trying to target.
I pray that your videos will wake these self-professing Christians from their sleep and cause them to turn from their errors.
Keep doing what you are doing !
I was into both New Age and New Thought and have heard New Thought referred to as Christian Science. And that was part of the appeal for me. I was introduced to New Thought by Wallace D. Wattles and his books The Science of Getting Rich and the Science of Being Well and Florence Scovel Shinn's books Your Word is Your Wand and The Game of Life and How to Play It. I was so lost and confused, but now I am found by the grace of the Heavenly Father. 🙏🏿 Great video Melissa! Thank you.
I used to love Florence's books. Thankful for God's mercy with all of that error.
How comfortable Christ Consciousness concept is...God is within me so therefore I don't have to aim, to look, to seek His Presence, I'm self reliant, I can do everything for myself. Incredible arrogance. I pray for all who have been deceived to come to their senses.
I didn't find it comfortable at all, the opposite in fact, there was a great gaping hole that no matter what I did, who I sought answers from or meditated on never felt fulfilled, these forms of self serving beliefs just take you round and round in never ending circles and keeps you hooked in under the premise that if it's all within then it must be me, I'm missing something, I'm doing it wrong, I need more answers and on and on and on it goes.
Great video. I think I have been into every aspect of both until I felt like I was at a dead end and indeed I was. Relativism is so insidious and it's everywhere. Thank you for shining a light on it.
I would put it this way (the short version):
while they both believe in "inner Divinity" and most likely a lack of belief in Hell, the main dfferences are:
New AGE, is more into Crystals, Gemstones, Reiki and Tarot cards, etc and
New THOUGHT, is more into thinking of God more as an "energy" than a personal God, and as something you can USE to get what you want (by your own "power") rather than asking "someone else" (God) in Prayer.
New Thought, is older. New Age was more of a 70's-8o's thing.
(The longer version). New Thought seems to have begun with Phinaes Parkhurst Quimby. I'd love to find out who may have mentored him or what books most infuenced him, but anyway...
Also, in the 1880's, Charles & Myrtle Fillmore founded "Unity School of Christianity" or as more known today "Unity Church" or even just "Unity". They are still active today. The headquarters is in Lee's Summit, Missouri.
Then, there was also Warren Felt Evans, and also Mary Baker Eddy and the Christian Science churches. All of these sort of grew and "percolated" and then, even before 1910, psychologist/philosopher William James pretty-much referred to all this as: "the Mind Cure movement" (but it was all under the New Thought "umbrella".
Zooming Out and looking at the Big picture on a timeline from 1850 to 1950....I'd say the Giant "Main Players" in all this were:
1. Quimby - 1800's
2. the Fillmores and Unity Church (probably more popular with the public than Quimby). Still active today.
3. Ernest Holmes and "The Science of Mind" (both a Church and a book by that name). Holmes died in 1960.
I think it would be hard to argue that these aren't "The Big 3".
There were others, such Mary Baker Eddy and the Science or Mind churches but i feel they are MORE concerned with positive-affirmation prayers and a focus on health (or in their case, denying sickness). There were also people such as:
Emerson (aTranscendentalist), Emma Curtis Hopkins, Warren Felt Evans, H, Emilie Cady (died 1925) and later Ernest Holmes (founder of Science of Mind and a book by the same name. Holmes died in 1960. Norman Vincent Peale, author of the Power of Positive Thinking was strongly influenced by Holmes but Peale took a less "mind power" appraoch and a more sort of "Christianized" approach. After Peale, we had Robert Schuller and the Crystal Cathedral church, then Kenneth Copeland and on and on). So, "today", when we have folks like:
Kenneth Copeland
Benny Hinn
Word of Faith
Joel Osteen
Robert Fuller (deceased)
Norman Vincent Peale
Joyce Meyer
Creflo Dollar
and on and on, and now even the Law of Attraction....it all goes back to New Thought and 188o's-ish roots.
May God Bless Melissa in her future endeavors! She keeps it real. (Hi-five!)
Every time I hear these hashed out I find a new little sneaky worm trying to get past us!
VERY helpful! New Thought led me into the New Age which is why I just lumped them together. What a tangled mess! Praise God for plucking us out.🙌
Thanks for showing the error of New Thought. It is amazing how this has influenced the Church. Not just NRA and Prosperity but also Progressive Christianity. I realised that this teaching was prominent in the 70s & 80s in Sales Coaching through Robert Schuller and Og Mindino.
About 11 years ago, my father, mother, sister, and brother-in-law went into New Thought. At the time, there was little literature available to help me discern their newfound belief.
I would ask them questions and write down the answers just so I could research the phrases. It took me three years to narrow their beliefs down to Gnosticism/New Thought. It took me an additional two years to have a conversation with them about it due to the many rabbit holes I would encounter. Talking to them was like walking in the fog... it was hard to see them. Melissa, I'm so grateful you've done the work and will publish your findings so that others won't have to scramble to find the answers. It's a very elusive belief system, so I'm glad you are helping others nail some things down. Thank you for being obedient.
I was raised in a Protestant home, always attended church and considered myself Christian. I began reading self help books to deal with stress and happiness (by Hay House authors) in 2000 and over 15 years New Age and New Thought were introduced to me. Unknowingly. In 2016 I became a member of a much more Biblical church and realized it. Sadly, it’s small steps that move a person way of course.
So grateful for your video on this topic - I was unaware of the term and the practice. I will have my eyes open from now on.
Thanks Melissa. This brings a lot of clarity to what I am seeing in the church right now. It is hard to recognize. I new from the first few weeks the church I was going to said many things I couldnt agree with. But as you said, ecause they blend, or bend scripture in its hard to recognize. Once you trust the spirit of God within you to guide in all truth, then you start to see these New Age teaching everywhere. Not just in the mega churches, but in the small churches to.
I'm new to the faith though I grew up in the church. None of these concepts were explained to me and I really appreciate you breaking them down in an easily digestible way. It's helping me to parse through all the information sent to me and build up my discernment muscle. God bless you sister!
Didn't you already do a video about this, this a re-upload?
Yes she did.
That’s what I was thinking
I thought so, too. I know she has talked about this difference in the past.
She said in the other uploads that she was going to a more in-depth breakdown and sharing her old thoughts vs. what she has found out. 🙂
Yeah, I referenced the video I made on this in the past and even read an excerpt from it. Also, in recent deep-dive videos, I've mentioned this info too. I've never done an in depth video on it though, which is what this is.
I was reading Dr. Caroline Leaf book/devotional. I got to day 165 when I finally realized she is teaching new thought. Every single day you read "your true self". I threw the book in the trash.
Melissa, thank you! I love listening to you!
I agree that New Thought is much more dangerous. That’s where I now see that this is where I was in my 30+ years in a charismatic church. Such overlap in “scriptural” interpretation, and as a teenager I was so attracted to the “secret power” that I craved over my life. I’m just so grateful to have your explanation- it helps me make sense of things as I keep untangling my prior misunderstanding and establish truthful understanding of scripture.
Thanks so much!
This was so good. Very informative and so needed. Thank you & I will be sharing. So many need to become aware of this. 🔥🔥🔥
I was able to locate a book published in 1890 on witchcraft. It is a miracle the book survived. Before giving myself to Christ, I belonged to various pagan, Wiccan, and Druid groups. The "witchcraft" in the 1890 bore no resemblance to the paganism practiced today. "New Age" literally is new.
You are the best Melissa. Love you. Blessings and gratitude.
New Thought is extremely seductive. I lost a dear friend several years ago into the false "Christ Consciousness" belief. She believed God was speaking to her directly to "correct" the errors in Scripture. Despite several, multi-hour long discussions with her, and even a semi-public debate with her, she remained lost. Your explanation of New Thought and Christ Consciousness is spot on. Thank you so much for everything you are doing, Melissa!
Thank you for doing this research and for writing your book. I am going to get a few copies and and give them to Christians I love who practice these principals and think they are biblical.
Since I'm less than a year of a born-again Christian I NOW see as in reading and hearing the Bible some of the scripture new thought/ new age cherry picked from the Bible.
I remember hearing, "I am, that I am" or "be still and know" which my mom's spiritual center (that I used to attend) had a closing song about.
I have mistakingly been using "new age" as a category for these philosophies / beliefs that are new thought. I'm glad you are clarifying this in your book. I do need to order copy.
I used be into Wayne Dyer. I actuallly used to call him "my Jesus". 🤦♀️
This was very helpful ☺️
So now what is the differences between New Thought and Progressive Christianity?
So timely as this stuff is everywhere! “Christian” influencers peddle new thought all over IG. Convincing someone this stuff is not biblical is so challenging. Because you are the narrow minded one missing out on “true Christianity”. 🙄
I was raised in a Protestant home, always attended church and considered myself Christian. I began reading self help books to deal with stress and happiness (by Hay House authors) in 2000 and over 15 years New Age and New Thought were introduced to me. Unknowingly. In 2016 I became a member of a much more Biblical church and realized it. Sadly, it’s small steps that move a person way of course.
Excellent video and work Melissa.
Thank you very melissa, God bless love you.
I have a question for you. What do you think about acupuncture?
I honestly honestly don't know much about it. So I'm not sure.
Nice job explaining these trends!
Thank you for explanation.
Thanks for sharing 🙏🏿
His grace and mercy be upon you and your loved ones 🕊️🥛🍯
In the 1970s when I was a teenager, it appears I was practicing new thought along with my Christian search to be closer to Christ. I was truly born again about 5 years ago. Satan sets many traps in a lot of people’s journeys.
I learned something new, thank you.❤
TY Melissa! It’s difficult sometimes, to differentiate🧡🙏🏻
Melissa, you’re a great teacher and funny too. 😊😂❤
Would you consider “Ikigai” to be a new thought practice or concept? I have a friend who’s super into all of the new thought stuff you mentioned and when I was struggling with career choices she told me about Ikigai...now I’m a little sus about this seemingly brilliant concept…😒
There is nothing new under the sun!
First time watching but this video explains something that had perplexed me.
People who claimed to be Christians who seemed to go off on Evangelical (I hadn't really understood what the difference was in their minds) as well as so many professed Christians who believed in the sins of the father transferring to the children *ie:reparations and white guilt*
So much of that goes against Christian teaching but now I understand why
Very informative
Melissa, I didn't see you mention the enneagram specifically. I wonder, does it fall in the overlap?
She mentions it in other videos….and yes. It is a New Thought culprit. :-)
Not specifically New Thought. I believe there is some overlap with beliefs, as the point of the enneagram is to lead you to your "True Self." But it is more aligned with people like Richard Rohr who is sort of a hodgepodge of spirituality ranging from Catholicism, perrenialism, new thought, mysticism and progressive Christianity.
Yes!! I finally know the difference. Thanks so very much. Great job! 👏🏽
Fascinating, as always, Melissa! Thanks for sharing this interesting teaching.
Very informative! Might have to watch a few more times…
What I'm missing is information about new age in the sense of 'a new era, a paradigm shift, the age of Aaquarius'. And in that sense, it also means leaving behind 'old thought' and accepting 'new thought'.
Sure, it could be about accepting a new way of thinking, but New Thought itself is its own movement. It has its own set of beliefs and claims to be Christian. New Thought would align itself with the acceptance of this as it's a position of spiritual tolerance. But the "Age of Aquarius" is originated with New Age, and not a New Thought idea touted as a Christian concept. Hope that's helpful
@@MelissaDoughertythanks for the clarification. I should have realised that the distinction is that New Thought specifically calls itself 'Christian'.
I don't want to drag this out, there are more important things, but I've been searching a bit and Constance Cumbey, who wrote 'Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow' (of which I publish the Dutch edition), says in her book that one of the names the New Age Movement is also known by is New Thought. I remembered that vaguely, and that is why I mentioned it here. I get what you are trying to say, but perhaps it's interesting to dig a bit deeper and find out why she puts it under the New Age umbrella. New Thought is mentioned in this list in her book (a list with other names for the New Age Movement), quote: 'The Aquarius Conspiracy, Humanistic Psychology, Network Movement, New Thought Religion, New Church, The Third Wave, The Third Force, New Consciousness, Transcendental Movement, Human Potential Movement, New Spirituality, Secular Humanism, Humanism.'
I look forward to all the videos that you mention as being on your list!
I LOVE your videos! But, I have to admit that this one was THE MOST SUCCINCT one I've watched on the "New Age" topic. I say "New Age", because in the past 18 -20 years of reading up about occultism (in it's various forms ... & there are many!) infiltrating the church, I've never heard of New Thought. You have just added another piece to the puzzle for me. Thank you for your steadfastness and warning to the church!❤
Wow I learned a lot from this, I think my sister has got into this kind of stuff, so you’ve given me some thoughts of what she’s getting into
Thanks so much for these videos. My daughter is deeply into New Thought, I knew she was going astray but couldn’t identify what was going on. She is very unreceptive to differing opinions so I don’t know how to broach this with her. Have you already done a video on how you learned the truth, became a Christian? I would be very interested to hear what lead you to see the truth.
@Melissa Dougherty would the books of Enoch also be included in Gnosticism?
I came from three generations of new thought. My great grandma (my maternal grandfather’s mother) was a Christian Scientist, my mom and grandma were students of A Course in Miracles.” I accepted Jesus’ invitation and gift when I was 10. However I struggled with maturing because of the confusion of my multigenerational New Thought influence that was so ingrained in our family life. I am still having revelation of what is the actual Truth. The fact that Jesus was physically resurrected was a recent revelation. I somehow after all of these years of studying the word I kept over looking that he literally was physically resurrected and is physically vs spiritually existing in heaven sitting at the right hand of God interceding for His flock. Definitely New thought Christianity is very detrimental and dangerous for Christians.
I guess I'm glad I never got involved in those. Way too much work for my interests. I'm glad you explained them.
I'm also thankful to be OLD age (yes chronological as well as spiritually) and OLD thought (going for what has stood the test of time).
I am a servant of God Almighty through submission to and cleansing of sin and the teaching of Jesus Christ, having been born again baptized by His Holy Spirit.
Thank you, Melissa, for your teaching and confirmational challenge for me to live what I claim to be. I cannot be the Christ aka Messiah. Only He is and will be.
You said yoga is new age? I have done yoga before to help with muscle issues I have however I do not practice the meditation yoga stuff. I use for the stretching of my body. Is that wrong also? My husband doesn't want me to do yoga at all because of the roots of it. I only do the "Christian yoga". Just curious on your perspective on this?
I've heard the positions themselves and the order they're done in are deliberately to chosen to worship the Hindu gods. They're supposed to help you "channel." I used to enjoy yoga too, just for the stretching, but now I just do my own stretches. Pilates might be a good alternative.
Allow me, I believe you can't take demonic things and "make it christian", just as you can't have "christian witchcraft", the influences are still there, eeven if disguised. A better alternative for your health can be pilates.
Yoga is a Sanskrit word meaning "to unite." The purpose of yoga is a practice meant to unite with the Hindu deity Brahman. Sri Chinmoy said that most people in the west don't understand what they are getting into when they practice yoga.
It’s like cooking. If someone were to make you decide to boycott French cuisine (go with the metaphor) that doesn’t mean you have to stop eating eggs and onions and flour. It means you don’t eat stylistic French dishes.
Other skill sets can teach stretching and body weight strength.
These three first responses are excellent. There is no such thing as "Christian yoga" in reality. It is, at best, yoga-light, yoga repackaged to bridge a gap and deceive.
I see many churches with yoga advertised in some form, but I wouldn't go for a heartbeat, or attend a church.that offers this.
What can you tell me about the beliefs of Christ Consciousness?
New Thought borrows some things from The "Name it, claim it" word of faith movement. The idea that we can speak things into our lives so we must not speak negative words. Of course, one has to have enough faith, speak in tongues (babbling nonsense), etc. I came out of that when I was a baby Christian as it was such a bondage. I thought I was not good enough because I could not genuinely "speak n tongues" (so I faked it) or seem to have enough faith to make things happen. All these false teachings, of course, point away from Jesus and the true Word of God. Works based bondage. Thank you going into detail so we can understand the deception of these false teachings and teachers. Jesus said, "Do not be deceived".
It's actually the other way around. New Thought is one of the movements that has informed the WoF movement.
I am currently seeing a Christian counselor. She is a pastor’s wife. We are doing EMDR, to help with my PTSD/anxiety. I was extremely cautious about it initially. I believe it is similiar to tapping. She insist it is not new age but scientifically based. Eventually, I went ahead and started EMDR. I am confused now. Does anyone know if EMDR is new age?
Can you make a PDF of this diagram with all the info included?
As someone who is currently Jesus curious (reading the Bible for the first time) and has definitely spent lots of time with New Thought beliefs, how do you reconcile when manifesting “works?”
For example, I know lots of hippie people (I have had a TM practice for years) that would fall under your New Thought definition (along with some New Age ideas too) who will tell you that they focused on what they wanted, got into a “higher vibration” and then it actually happened in their life? I feel like this happened when I met my husband. So…. If the New Thought ideas aren’t true, then how do you explain that? It’s just coincidence? I hope you will make a video about this (I’m super open to your thoughts!).
I would love to hear your analysis of the “crystal vortex” phenomenon around Sedona Arizona and the “intentionality” involved in charging crystals. It seems to be a confluence of new age and new thought but I don’t have much experience in that world view.
It’s all new age. I did it for thirty-five years.
I feel like I’m too early to be here
Please make an infographic. That would be so helpful.
Thanks gf!!
Metaphysical vs Supernatural. These concepts are subtle.
EFT tapping always seemedva bit jewbage when I was in therapy, but I didnt think they were.
Melissa, do you know who coined the terms "new age" and "new thought"? Are these terms people in those movements would use to describe themselves?
The hardest thing for me is explaining this to Christians entangled in this form of deception, notably the Bill Johnson’s of the world. I recently failed miserably.
So interesting how you and Dee Virtue have opposite views on this! You two ought to have a conversation on video. That would be so cool.
This sounds very eerily like Word of Faith
So much New Thought in the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), Kenneth Copeland, Joel Osteen,etc
You wouldn't happen to have a PDF of your Venn Diagram there, would you?
These videos on New Thought have been a big help for me. I'm currently prepping for the final lesson on a comparative religion "unit" I've been doing with our church's Jr. High kids and the final session will be on the Christian heresies like New Thought, Mormonism, JW, Prosperity Gospel, & Christian Science (which is more gnostic than New Thought is).
Not too long ago you had on the authors of Critical Dilemma who traced a line of thought from the Critical studies and other things through Marxism and the Frankfurt school. You also teach about New Thought and touch upon Western Esotericism and have briefly mentioned Hermetic teachings. I would encourage you to look into how these two supposedly different disorders are connected directly through Hegel and the Kabbalist/Esoteric progenitors he was influenced by. These are not two separate battles, but the very root of a spiritual war that has kept adapting in the shadows for over 1,800 years
What about the teaching of The Unity Church?
I hadn't realized how much of either has crept into society.
I REALLY hadn't realized that it had crept in under the guise of Christianity as I have always attended traditional services which stick to traditional scripture and interpretations
I remember in the 80s when the traditional churches were bashing on each other over things that seem so trivial now compared to the stuff that would make all if those yelling at each other back then collectively pass out rn.
Back then not exclusively using The King James version of the Bible was proof you were going to burn in Hell.
I think I'd pay good money to see the apoplectic fit an 80s radio evangelist would have if they time travelled to rn.
Back to the Future 4: The Battle of the Classic Christian vs the New Thought Christian
Idk... maybe a reach.
The on the air battles of yester year seem almost ridiculous now compared what they would find today
How does one find a church that is untouched by "New Thought" beliefs?
Hey Melissa.... Is this a reupload/rerecording?? 😅
Would u say a prayer board is new thought?
I thought you already made a video like this a short time back.
I made it a few years ago. I'm very surprised people still remember it lol it only got a few thousand views. But I reference that older video in this video because a lot of the information in the older video wasn't correct. Hence, why I made this one.
The important thing is that you are a Christian!
All that science stuff reminds me of the stuff Joe Dispenza talks about... I never understood what he was talking about but it sounded like it backed up all the other new thought content I was consuming
Sounds like the gnostic gospel the early Church fought.... oh funny, you just said that!!🤦♀️
It's the same thing just a different flavour
Makes me glad Jesus made it so simple in true Christianity.
Looks like you have a busy 2025 in video making, Melissa 😂
You should look at science of mind by Ernest Holmes, they didn't call themselves Christian, had a special way of praying
Is this similar to Mormon beliefs as well?
After watching this video a video with you and Alisa Childers and seeing how "progressive Christianity" and new age and new thought overlap and is leading Christians away.
Is Catholicism new thought? I mean all the extra biblical stuff they believe in they claim is equal to scripture. Are their beliefs considered gnostic?
Catholicism is self described as so old that it certainly grew up right alongside the original gnostics and the early church had to cast some of them out.
Apparently something called “neognosticism” which advocates for secret knowledge and adhering to rules for salvation is pretty slippery and can hide in any church branch including Catholicism.
What about the book of Enoch?
Yay - Venn diagrams!