| Perhaps William James summed it up best when he | | | | - * The Buddha taught of suffering is the very core |
| wrote: | | | | nature of all life: "Life is Suffering, to live is to suffer" |
| "The New Thought Movement is a deliberately | | | | (The First Noble Truth of the Buddha) |
| optimistic scheme of life, with both a speculative and | | | | - * Modern Christianity teaches of a Wrathful, |
| practical side... the conquering efficacy of courage, | | | | Punishing God and the idea of "Original Sin" which all |
| hope, and trust... with results corroborated by the | | | | humans are born into and must suffer because of: "I, |
| practical experiences of it's adepts... and this | | | | the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the |
| experience forms to-day a mass imposing in amount." | | | | children for the sin of the fathers" Exodus 20:5 |
| (very slightly paraphrased for length) | | | | What sets New Thought apart is that at its very |
| Fundamental Principles at of New Thought are: | | | | core, at the level of its most basic and fundamental |
| - * True Human self-hood is divine | | | | of all principles: Original Goodness and Goodness |
| - * There is an Omni-present intelligent Force working | | | | Inherent in all beings and things replaces the ideas of |
| at all times | | | | Original Sin and Vengeful Gods. |
| - * This Omni-present force (often called Infinite | | | | At first, this most basic of New Thought Principles |
| intelligence") is a positive force for good | | | | may not seem like all that big of shift... But what a |
| - * As Human beings we are able to become | | | | difference it makes in your everyday life! |
| "attuned" with this force | | | | How different would your life be if you imagined |
| - * Aligning with the Universal Force has a healing, and | | | | every person everywhere had your best interests at |
| prosperous effect | | | | heart? Or, what would it feel like to have and |
| What sets New Thought apart from other ideologies | | | | embrace a Divine Force which is loving, nurturing, |
| is this notion that, "True Human self-hood is divine." | | | | abundant and joyful? |
| Most major world religions already teach that there is | | | | Every aspect of life flows outward from these few |
| an all (or near all) powerful force at work in the | | | | basic ideas, the core belief behind the new Thought |
| Universe already, so that's not really something new | | | | Principles is the belief in the Goodness of all things |
| at all... In fact, nearly all world religions teach assorted | | | | and beings... Every aspect of our life, every action we |
| methods for aligning and tuning oneself with that | | | | take, every decision we make is flavored by this |
| force. | | | | fundamental overriding tone: "Is life a celebration? ...or |
| What makes it New Thought "New" is the idea that | | | | is life Suffering? Are you meant to live in Joy? ...or in |
| this Universal All Powerful Force is a Force of | | | | pain?" |
| Goodness and benevolence. New Thought | | | | You have to decide for yourself which type of world |
| Practitioners believe in the notion of "Original | | | | you want to live in: Pain and Suffering - or - Joy and |
| Goodness" rather than "Original Sin." | | | | Goodness... The choice is yours to make, but for my |
| By all rights, this isn't really a new idea at all. But since | | | | two cents worth, I think I'll stick with the life of joy, |
| two of the world's largest religions teach Original Sin | | | | goodness, benevolence, and happiness... After all, it |
| and Suffering it's easy to see how the notion of | | | | seems only nature to enjoy life rather then begrudge |
| 'Newness' came about. | | | | the opportunity doesn't it? |
| For Perspective: | | | | |