The Roads to Truth: In Search of New Thought's Roots

Within my library, this book has a place alongside such historical introductions to the New Thought movement as Braden's Spirits in Rebellion: The Rise and Development of New Thought (1963), Larson's New Thought Religion: A Philosophy for Health, Happiness, and Prosperity (1987), Anderson & Whitehouse's New Thought: A Practical American Spirituality (1995), and Satter's Each Mind a Kingdom: American Women, Sexual Purity, and the New Thought Movement, 1875 - 1920 (1999), among a few others. However, it includes a broader interest in the movement's ideological roots and placement within a larger metaphysical stream which, more recently, Catherine L. Albanese has explored in her seminal A Republic of Mind & Spirit: A Cultural History of American Metaphysical Religion (2007). Albanese's academic tome provides balance to Sherry Evans's similar book which, although more accessible and not so dense in terms of prose and details, is less objective and more supportive of an impersonal pantheistic interpretation of New Thought and the perennial philosophy, colored by the lenses of Aldous Huxley's The Perennial Philosophy (1944), which clashes with the traditional monotheistic faiths, including the personal trinitarian theism of mainstream Christianity in all its branches. Without going into detail, suffice it to say that there are some statements and hermeneutical issues within Evans's book that academic theologians and apologists, even historians, within the traditional monotheistic faiths of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam would challenge. This also includes some academics who are well educated in the mystical traditions within each of these religions and who recognize that the mystical, esoteric elements within them do not necessarily (although sometimes do) clash with the exoteric and scriptural expressions (see, for example, the intro to the Dictionary of Gnosis & Western Esotericism [2005], edited by Wouter J. Hanegraaff and Bernard McGinn's multi-volume history of Western Christian Mysticism). Also, there is an influential overlap in terms of New Thought and popular religion, especially Christianity in America, that is not sufficiently addressed by Evans. Many who identify with traditional Christianity and its orthodox theology have been influenced, in many ways unknowingly, by New Thought ideas and practices via success/self-help literature as addressed by authors such as Richard Weiss, Richard Huber, and Roy Anker. This is because New Thought is more concerned with practical results than dogma. Additionally, within contemporary New Thought there are some who are moving away from the pantheism in some expressions of New Thought to a more personal panentheism as seen and promoted in Anderson & Whitehouse's book, referenced above. This is not given sufficient attention in Evans's book, and although she touches on panentheism on page 102, she assumes that "humanity has a higher standing in pantheism". New Thought advocates Anderso

Sherry Evans has pulled together in one volume a superb survey of the history, development, key people, and beliefs of the philosophy of life variously known as New Thought, Science of Mind, Mental Science, and more currently, Law of Attraction. The book is laid out well, the font-type size is just right, the bibilography is good, and it also thankfully has an acceptable Index. There are numerous helpful charts and summaries of various New Thought teachings. Short biographical sketches of New Thought founders and teachers, and their place in the larger movement are appropriately located throughout the book. A wonderful book and very much appreciated, thank you Sherry Evans.